Trim the edges of the tomatoes and cut them into halves. Also, peel the garlic skin and chop the green chilies.
Wash and soak the black-eyed peas for 20 minutes.
Steps:
Add the chopped onion, garlic, green chili, ginger and tomatoes to the instant pot. Then add 2 cups of water.
Now press the manual or pressure cook button and cook this on high pressure for 5 minutes and then release the pressure naturally.
When the pressure is released, press the cancel button and carefully open the lid.
Allow the mix to cool down for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve the water. Remove the tomato skin and grind the cooked onion, tomato, garlic, green chili and ginger into a fine puree.
Now place the inside pot back in the IP and pressure saute button.
When it is hot, add the puree. You can use some of the reserved stock water and rinse the mixer jar and add it to the puree.
Now add all the spices - salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, carom seeds, cumin powder.
Mix it thoroughly and then add the black-eyed peas.
Mix it and add the remaining of the reserved stock water.
Press the cancel button and close the IP lid. Make sure the vent is in the sealed position. Pressure cook this for eight minutes in high pressure and release the pressure naturally.
When the pressure is released, press the cancel button and carefully open the lid.
Mash some of the dal with the back of the spoon. This helps in thicker consistency gravy.
Finally, add in the jaggery and cilantro. Mix it, and that's it. Cowpeas curry is now ready.
Video
Notes
Carom seeds are optional. As I did not include hing, I went with carom seeds. You can use ground carom seeds also.
Adjust the salt and spices as per your preference.
Jaggery is optional as well, and if you can't find it, you can use raw sugar or cane sugar.
The cooking time varies depending upon the quality of the bean and also if it's soaked or un-soaked. Please check the post for more details.
You can make this recipe in pressure cooker as well. You can cook the tomatoes and onion for two whistles and make the puree. You can then follow the steps as mentioned above and then after adding the beans, you can cook for four to five whistles depending upon the soaking time.