Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil, add 1 small finely chopped tomato and saute till it turns soft and mushy.
Add the onion & coconut paste and saute till it leaves oil from the edges.
Add spices, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, red chilli powder & turmeric powder. Add salt to taste.
Saute this mixture for about 2-3 minutes till the mixture leaves oil which indicates that our masala is perfectly cooked.
Add the boiled kala vatana (black peas) along with the water in which they were boiled.
Mix the vatana (peas) with onion-coconut masala. Check for seasoning at this time.
Now, add 2 cups of hot boiling water to make the gravy.
Here adjust the quantity of water as per the consistency you need. Let the curry come to a boil.
Cover & cook for about 5 minutes so that all the flavours from the spices are properly infused in the vatana (peas).
Lastly, add finely chopped coriander leaves.
Delicious Kala Vatana Usal (Black Peas Curry) is ready to serve.
Squeeze lemon juice while serving and enjoy with flatbreads, bread or rice.