Culinary Experiments : Palakura Pappu - South Indian Style Dal Palak Recipe

PALAKURA PAPPU

Dal is one of the dishes I always struggle in preparing - and given I have to feed myself the required iron portion, Dal Palak is an easy escape. I attempted an Andhra style preparation called the Palakura Pappu.

INGREDIENTS:

• Pre-soaked Moong Dal/Toor dal - 1 Cup
• 1 small onion chopped
• Handful garlic cloves
• Small Ginger Chopped
• 1 Chili Chopped
• Grated Coconut/chopped
• 2 Sukhi lal mirchi
• 2 tablespoon mustard oil 
• Chopped palak leaves
• 1/2 tomato diced
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Jeera seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon Asafoetida 
• Tamarind paste or tamarind soaked in water
• 1/2 teaspoon Garam masala
• 1/3 teaspoon jeera powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sambhar powder

RECIPE:

In a pressure cooker, add the following ingredients and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles.

In a heated pan, add 2 tablespoon of mustard oil. Post that add 1/2 teaspoon of mustard and jeera seeds.

As they start to crackle, add 1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida.

Time for the garlic cloves, lal such mirchi and the freshly chopped chillies.

Once the garlic is slightly fried, add the chopped onions.

In the meanwhile, the dal with the ingredients would have been cooked - please use a masher to mash the contents thoroughly.

Add about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of tamarind paste and mix well. You could use fresh tamarind soaked in water as well.

By this time, the masalas would have gotten fried aptly - add the mashed dal to it.

To it add, 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala, 1/3 teaspoon of jeera powder and 1/2 teaspoon of sambhar powder. Mix the ingredients well.

Allow it to simmer for 5-6 minutes.

Garnish with grated coconuts and coriander leaves and serve hot!

~Bon Appetite!!

P.S All the pictures have been taken by me.