Malabar Spinach Dal

Malabar Spinach Dal/ Basale soppina belesaru

Ingredients: 

Split green gram/ Moong dal – 1 cup 

Red lentil/ Masoor dal – 1 cup 

Malabar spinach/ basale soppu – 1 big bunch, finely chopped 

Red tomatoes – 2 big size, finely chopped 

Shallots/ Red Onion – 1/2 cup, finely chopped 

Garlic – 15 medium size, finely chopped 

Ginger – 2 inch, finely chopped 

Soaked tamarind – 1 big marble size 

Green chillies – 5, vertically slit 

Dry Red chillies – 8, broken into halves 

Coriander powder – 1/4 tbsp 

Red chillie powder – 1/4 tbsp 

Turmeric powder – 1 tsp 

Mustard seeds – 1 tsp 

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp 

Curry leaves – 2 sprigs 

Coriander leaves – 1 small bunch for garnish 

Salt as per taste 

Oil for tempering

Instructions: 

         Add split green gram in a pan and saute it until it slightly changes the color to brown. Add red lentil into the same pan and stir fry for less than a minute. Add water and wash the split green gram and red lentils together. Add them to a pressure cooker along with sufficient water, 1 tablespoon of oil and cook until they are 80% soft. 

        Add chopped malabar spinach, tomatoes, soaked tamarind, coriander powder, red chillie powder, turmeric powder, salt into the cooked dal and mix well. Add some water, mix well and let it cook in the pressure cooker for 1 whistle. Alternatively, you may also add soaked tamarind after the dal is cooked well. Mash it well along with the dal so that the flavors blend together. 

        In a small kadai add some oil for tempering and heat it. When the oil is heated, add mustard seeds and let it splutter. Now, add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add curry leaves, green chillies, ginger, garlic, shallots and saute well. When the shallots are translucent add red dry chillies and saute for a minute. Switch off the flame and add the tempering into the cooked dal and mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with plain rice, millet rice, jeera rice, roti, chapati, puri, dosa, idli, ragi ball etc.

NOTE: My grandparents used to say that this spinach helps to treat mouth ulcers or blisters as well as to cool down the body temperature. It is easily available and has been effective home remedy for us. If not, it's a great way to add greens in your food for healthy eating! Try out once.