Summer at its peak :) All we need is food that will cool our bodies and all I need is to cook something fast and get out of kitchen :) Pasiparupu aka moong dal is well known for its cooling effects and so is cucumber. Also pasiparupu is very good for growing toddlers. This stew ( kootu in Tamil) being prepared with these two is great for summer.This is my mom's recipe,a very simple one to prepare with very few ingredients and the resulting dish is very fresh flavorful and soothing.
Ingredients:
1 cup moong dal
1 large cucumber peeled and chopped
1 large tomato chopped fine
1tsp mustard seeds
1tsp split urad dal
1tsp gram dal
A pinch of asafoetida
A pinch of turmeric powder
3 dried red chillies
Few curry and cliantro leavs
Juice of half a lemon
salt to taste
Method:
Heat oil in a pressure pan and add mustrad, urad and gram dal and let them splutter.Add curry leaves,dried chillies,asafoetida and fry well for few minutes. Now add the chopped tomatoes and cucumber and fry well for 5 minutes. Now add the washed moong dal and fry for 2 minutes and add 3 cups of water to it. Add salt turmeric powder.,mix well and pressure cook up to 4 whistles. Open the pan once the pressure is released add lemon juice,garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice and ghee.
Notes:
I added a pinch of amchur powder instead of lemon juice.
Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 2