Paruppu Keerai Kootu

Ingredients

Paruppu Keerai/Greens - 2 bunch (Approximately 3 cups)
Green Gram/Green Dhal - 1/4 cup
Pearl Onion - 12 nos or 1 small onion
Tomato - 1 small size
Garlic pod - 3 nos
Ginger - a pea size Green Chili - 1 no Salt for taste
Oil - 1ts
Butter - 1 ts (Optional)
Shredded Coconut - 1 ts (Optional)
Milk - 2 ts (Optional )


Tempering

Mustard - 1/4 ts
Urad Dhal - 1/2 ts
Cumin Seeds/Jeera - 1/4 ts
Asfoetida/Hing - 2 pinch


Method

1. Wash the Dhal, greens separately and drain nicely. Finely chop the Greens,onion,garlic,Ginger and tomato,slit the green chili.

2. In the thick bottomed pan add the butter then add chopped onion,garlic,ginger,green chili,tomato along with the Greens stir it for 5 to 6mins in a medium heat, add a cup of water let the dhal cook in the water.

3. Once the dhal,greens,veggies are cooked add the milk and adjust the seasoning.

4. Let it cook for 2mins then add the grated coconut and stir it.

5. Switch off the gas, tempering is optional if you feel like doing then in a pan add 1 ts oil/Butter and add the tempering items in the list once done add to the Keerai kootu.

This kootu goes well with rice and chapati.

Quick Tempered Dhal / Thalitha Paruppu

Ingredients

Thoor Dhal - 1/2 cup
Garlic - 1 pod
Turmeric Pwd - a pinch
Asfoetida/Hing - a pinch
Salt for taste
Coriander Leaves - 2 strands

Tempering

Mustard - 1/4 ts
Cumin Seeds - 1/4 ts
Urad Dhal - 1/4 ts
Asfoetida/Hing - a pinch
Curry Leaves - 1 twig
Pearl Onion/shallot - 5nos or Red Onion - 1 no small
Green Chili - 1 no
Tomato - 1 no small size
Butter/Ghee/Oil - 1 ts

Method

1. Wash the thoor dhal and pressure cook with a cup of water along with a pinch of turmeric,Asfoetida/hing,garlic and a drop of oil/ghee. Meanwhile finely chop the onion,tomato and slit the green chili.

2. Once the dhal is cooked mash it with a Dhal masher and keep aside.

3. In a medium heat place a pan, add butter/ghee/Oil once heated add the mustard and when it splutters add the cumin seeds,urad dhal,Asfoetida, curry leaves, green chili and add the pearl onion saute till it turns light golden brown color then add the tomatoes and saute it till the tomatoes are tender.

4. Add the dhal and adjust the seasoning, let it boil for a min then switch off the gas and garnish with some coriander leaves.

This is a simple Dhal which goes well with rice, if you dont have time to cook sambar this is the best option.