Muringakka Mulakushyam

Muringakka  Mulakushyam – A  delicious main curry with rice in Kerala cuisine. Recipe from  Manorama online !!

Serves: 3 - 4

Ingredients

For parippu (dal):

Leftover 1 cup boiled turdal

or

1/3 cup / 80 g (Indian standard measuring cup of 80 ml / 6 oz capacity) tur dal / arhar dal

1 cup / 200 ml water

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

½ teaspoon oil

Wash and clean dal. Soak in a pressure cooker for half an hour with turmeric powder, oil and 1 cup / 200 ml water and cook for 15 minutes or till done ( reduce the heat to medium after 3 rd whistle (3 quick whistles) and cook for 10 minutes until done / soft. Allow the cooker to cool naturally. Reserve dal stock (cooked dal water).

For coconut paste:

5 tablespoon (60 g) grated coconut

1 teaspoon jeera (cumin seeds)

2 green chillies

2 tablespoon water

Make a smooth paste of above ingredients in a small mixer bowl with 2 tablespoon water. Keep aside.

Other curry ingredients

3 drumsticks, gently peel off the outer skin and cut into 2 – inch slices

1 green chilli, slit lengthwise

½ teaspoon turmeric powder

¾ teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Method

In a bowl, boil drumstick pieces with slit green chilli, turmeric powder and salt. Cover with a lid and cook on a medium to low heat 10 – 12 minutes until drumstick pieces half cooked. Add boiled dal (along with  stock). Mix well and cook on a low heat another 5 – 8 minutes. Stir occasionally.

At this stage, add coconut paste and cook on a low heat for 5 minutes until well combined with dal and other ingredients. Switch off the heat.

For seasoning:

2 teaspoon oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon jeera (optional)

6 curry leaves

1 red chilli, halved

Method

Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. When they crackle, add jeera (optional), curry leaves and halved red chilli and fry till crisp. Pour the seasoning over curry. Serve with rice and other accompaniments.