Spinach dal/Palakura pappu

 

 

 

 

 Spinach (also called Palak in India) cooked like this with toor dal or split green gram ( Moong Dal )  is iron-rich and healthy.

 Ingredients:

1. Spinach - half bunch
2. Toor dal - 1 cup
3. Green chillies - 4
4. Tomatoes - 2 medium size
5. Tamarind about the size of lime
6. Turmeric -1/4tsp
7. Salt to taste

For Seasoning:

1.  Curry leaves -4
2.  Dry red chillies -2
3.  Cumin seeds1 tsp
4.  Mustard seeds - 1tsp
5.  Garlic - 2cloves or Hing - a little
6.  Oil -2tsp

Method:

• Soak tamarind in warm water and squeeze out the pulp.
• In a pan  fry the toor dal with a tsp of oil till u get the nice aroma of dal.
• Then cook toor dal, green chillies, turmeric and spinach (palakura) and tomato with sufficient amount of water in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles.
• After the cooker is cooled off,mash the dal  adding tamarind pulp and salt in it.
• Heat oil in a skillet, add mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, mashed garlic cloves, red chillies. Add the seasoning to Spinach Dal (Palakura Pappu) and cook for 3-4 minutes.Serve hot with steamed rice and a spoon of desi ghee.

*U can use fenugreek(methi)leaves or any other green leafy vegetables instead of spinach and cook with the toor dal or moong dal(pesarapappu) the same method as above.

Banana Pepper - Potato curry

 The indian bread(chapathis) are eaten with different types of  curry/gravy .Generally vegetarians make the  curry/gravy with mix of potatoes and other vegetables along with a blend of indian spices

Ingredients:

1. Banana peppers - 4
2. Tomatoes - 4
3. Red potatoes - 5
4. Onion -1(large)
5. Gasagasalu/poppy seeds -1/4cup
6. Cumin-coriander seed-clove-cinnamon powder - 2tsp
7. Red chilli powder -1/2tsp
8. Salt - 1tsp
9. Turmeric -1/2tsp

For seasoning:

1. Cumin seeds - 1tsp
2. Mustard seeds - 1tsp
3. Minced garlic - 2
4. Few curry leaves

Method:

• Heat in a sauce pan 1tsp oil and add the seasoning ingredients.
• To this add and saute chopped onion,tomatoes,peeled and cubed potatoes and peppers cut into small rings crosswise.
• Stir in finely powdered poppy seeds,cumin-coriander seed-clove -cinnamon powder,salt and chilli powder and turmeric.
• Add 2 cups of water and mix well.Cover and cook on medium heat for about 15 to 20min, stirring in-between.
• When the gravy reaches the consistency u desire turn off the heat.
• Let the curry sit for 10minutes and serve warm.
• Tastes superb with chapathis or with rice.