Drumstick Greens Usili

Murungai Keerai Usili:

Moringa Keerai Poriyal. Murungai Keerai Masala Poriyal. Moringa ilai thoran(Tamil Nadu Style)

Moringha oleifera is the Botanical name of this tree. We call this as 'Murungai Keerai' in Tamil. The leaves are rich in iron and potassium. Rich source of dietary fibre. It is an aphrodisiac plus stimulant. It has good content of Vitamin A...as in folks words 'good for eye sight'! It is also considered as nerve tonic in many places(I have no clue about it). Leaves are diuretic in nature.

This recipe goes to Sowmya's Cooking with Greens Event!

Ingredients:
Drumstick Greens 1 large bowl
Mustard seeds 1/2 spoon
Cumin seeds 1/2 spoon
Chana dal 1/2 spoon
Urad dal 1/2 spoon
Curry leaves few
Green chilies 3 finely chopped
Dry red chilies 6
Chana dal 1 cup(soaked in water for 20 minutes)
Ginger-garlic paste 1 spoon
Fennel seeds 3 spoons
Salt(to grind with dal)
Salt for beans
Turmeric 1 pinch
Curry leaves few(to grind)
Oil 2 cups

Method:

In a blender dry grind fennel seeds, salt, dry chilies and curry leaves. Set them aside.

Wet grind chana dal bit coarsely and set aside.

In a pan, heat oil. Add mustard, cumin, curry leaves, chana and urad dal. Let them pop and splutter well.

To this add green chilies and cleaned drumstick greens. Fry well. Add salt and 1 pinch of turmeric powder. Sprinkle little water over this. Cover and cook.

When it is 3/4th done, add chana (wet-ground paste) and stir-fry. Let the dal-paste get well coated with the greens.Toss to all sides..until dal gets fried and cooked.

Run few spoons of oil now, if needed. The dal should not be wet or undercooked anymore. It should be sort of crispy and fragrant now.

Serve warm to go with plain steamed rice.