Palakura Pappu(Spinach Dal)

Ingredients:

1 small cup tur dal/red gram dal/kandi pappu

2 cups chopped palakura/palak/spinach

2-3 green chillis, slit lengthwise

1/4 tsp turmeric pwd

1/2 tsp of red chile pwd

leamon size of tamerind

salt to taste

8-10 fresh curry leaves

1 1/2 cups water, approx

For seasoning/poppu/tadka:

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp urad dal/minappa pappu/split gram dal (optional)

3-4 garlic cloves, crushed

2 dry red chillis, de-seed and tear

10-12 fresh curry leaves

2-3 tsps oil

1 In a pressure cooker, place dal, palak leaves, curry leaves, green chillis, red chile pwd ,salt to taste,tamarind and turmeric pwd. Add 2 1/2 to 3 cups of water and pressure cook upto 3-4 whistles. If cooking over stove top, cooktill the dal is almost cooked.

2 Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel, add mustards seeds and as they jump around, add cumin seeds, urad dal, garlic, red chillis and curry leaves and stir fry for half a minute.

3 Add this to the pressure cooked dal and combine.Cook on slow to medium flame for 5-7 mts without lid or till you get the consistency of your choice.

4 Serve with white rice or roti.