Monday, March 15, 2010

Drumsticks Cooked in Roasted Mung Dal


It is not always we can find drumsticks in the market. And there in our house how the drumsticks would be dangling from the branches and when they grew in size, were broken down from the branches with long bamboo sticks and then cooked...fresh from the garden. The branches are so fragile they broke when at times the monkeys came in groups and were busy in their tandav. They jumped from branch to branch...the father monkey, the mother monkey, the children, the aunts, the uncles...hey they came, the monkey lot,  devastating most of the trees and fruits in the backyard garden. They ate the vegetables and fruits and also wasted some...maybe not their taste-worthy.

When spring came the leaves of this tree, was cooked with dal. It has a bitter taste and it was believed to be a good preventive for chicken pox. Whatever it was cooked, most of us siblings, never let Thakur (our cook) serve this. If Baba was present there was no way to make a fuss. The flowers were made into Boras...equally bitter but Ma said it was healthy.

With years of experience in my kitchen, I am happy to cook drumsticks in roasted mung dal. This dal and drumstick combination was something I tried out and it was tasty indeed. Here it is:




1 cup moong dal, dry roast till it takes a pinkish tinge. Once it cools down, wash and place the dal in the pressure cooker with 2 ½ cups of water. Add ½ tsp haldi and cook till the cooker gives out 4 whistles.

Take 4-5 drumsticks. Size them to 2 inch in length. Wash and keep them. Put to boil the drumsticks in a pan with 1½ cup water and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook till the sticks are cooked. If there is water remaining don’t drain it out.


Pour 1½ tsp mustard oil in a wok. You can use any cooking oil. Once the oil is hot add 2 tsp panch phoron and tip in 3 green chillies broken into half. Once the seeds start crackling in the hot oil pour the cooked dal into the wok. As it starts boiling add the drumsticks along with the remaining water. Add salt and sugar. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Pour some desi ghee on top.

Serve with hot rice and even tastes good with hot rotis straight from the tawa.

9 comments:

  1. Rice, I'll love this with rice. 3 te drumsticks pore ache fridge, shorshe batte icche korche na ... ekhon toh recipe peye gelam. Thanks Gouridi! :-)

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  2. I like this and also the leaves from the drumstick plant. Never made it in this combination though. We generally add a coconut gravy to the drumsticks.

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  3. nice combo...curry looks so creamy and yummy!!

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  4. This is very interesting.I cook drum sticks in yoghurt gravy but in moong dhal is new to me I will definately try this delicious recipe.Do drop by simply.food sometime.

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  5. Yummy combo..Love drumsticks and I really miss the fresh ones here..

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  6. Friends I'm late to say Thank You for your comments.

    Sharmila, nice of you to be here with your sweet words that encourages me.

    Kitchen queen, thanks for the compliment.

    Nostalgia, many like the leaves which is healthy. I rarely use coconut in my recipes.

    Sarah, thanks for the appreciation.

    simply.food, I also cook the drumsticks with potatoes and mustard paste. This also tastes good.
    You have a nice blogspot. Drop by at my other two blogspots.

    Gulmohar, fresh ones have their special taste...

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  7. Lovely, i was looking for a drumsticks recipe. If you have more do share. My husband loves drumsticks :). I will try this one.

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  8. Hi Rachna,
    Welcome to my cookery blog. I'll be posting some more drumstick recipes.
    Thanks for being here.

    Gouri

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