Murungai Keerai Paruppu Usili Recipe - Drumstick Leaves & Toor Dal
Usili is a traditional and popular recipe from the state of Tamil Nadu, in which dal or paruppu is steamed cooked along with spices. It is mainly cooked with a variety of vegetables namely, french beans, broad beans, leafy greens etc.
Ingredients
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1-1/2 cups Drumstick Leaves (Moringa/Murungai Keerai)
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1 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu)
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1 Dry Red Chilli
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1/2 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
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3 teaspoons Oil
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Salt
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to taste
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Ingredients to make the Paruppu Usili
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1 cup Arhar dal (Split Toor Dal)
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1 teaspoon Fennel seeds (Saunf)
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2 Dry Red Chillies
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Salt
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as per your taste
Instructions
Step 1
To begin making the Murungai Keerai Paruppu Usili Recipe, wash and soak toor dal for 30 minutes
Step 2
*To make the Paruppu UsiliAfter 30 minutes drain the water from dal
Step 3
Combine the soaked toor dal along with fennel seeds, dried red chillies, and salt in a mixer jar and grind to a coarse mix using a mixer grinder
Step 4
Transfer to a bowl
Step 5
Heat an idli steamer on medium heat, with enough water
Step 6
Grease the idli mould and keep it ready
Step 7
Now make small lemon sized balls of the prepared paruppu usili mixture, and place it in the idli mould
Step 8
Cover and steam cook for 10 minutes, until the dal mixture is cooked
Step 9
(Don't make the ball of dals too tight as the lentils will not steam very well)In a wide pan, add oil and heat it on medium heat, add the mustard seeds, asafoetida and let it splutter
Step 10
Add the dried red chillies, and let it crackle
Step 11
Add the drumstick leaves, season with salt, mix well, cover and cook for 5 minutes until the drumstick leaves are cooked well
Step 12
Meanwhile, remove the steamed toor dal balls, crumble it with your hands so that it resembles the sandy texture
Step 13
Once the drumstick leaves are cooked well, add the crumbled toor dal mix to the pan and mix well
Step 14
At this stage you can add a teaspoon or two of oil, if the mixture looks too dry
Step 15
Saute for 2 minutes, until the dal crumbles are nice and crispy and switch off the heat
Step 16
It is ready to be served
Step 17
Serve Murungai Keerai Paruppu Usili along with Steamed Rice and Tomato Jeera & Paruppu Rasam Recipe for a weeknight dinner