Thotakura Pappu

Difficulty Rating 3:  Pressure cooker needed, Special Ingredients Needed

Thotakurra is an Indian vegetable similar to spinach.  

1 ½ cups Toor dal
1/2 a large bunch of  thotakura/amaranth (or substitute spinach) leaves washed and chopped

½ medium onion diced

1 medium tomato diced

¾ Green chili (adjust to taste)

2 tsp. Tamarind paste (optional)

Salt to taste

½ tsp mustard seeds

1//2 tsp Chana dal (optional)

½ tsp cumin seeds

Few curry leaves (optional)

Pinch asafoetida (optional)

1. 1.     Combine the toor dal, amarath leaves, green chilli, onion and tomato with a pinch of turmeric in a pressure cooker. Cook it in the pressure cooker for 4 to 5 whistles till soft.
2. 2.     Heat oil and splutter a mustard seeds, chana dal, cumin seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida.
3. 3.     Add the spiced oil to the cooked dal mixture. Now add the salt and tamarind and return the dal mixture to the stove and cook for another five minutes.
4. 4.     Serve with hot rice, fry and papadam.