Green has never been a fussy thing in my repertoire. I just remember having in form of Poriyal (stir fry), Masiyal (Coarsely ground green with chillis & garlic) and with dhal (lentil). My mom makes sure; we all get green (called Keerai) in any form on a everyday basis. Being kid, I enjoyed the Masiyal served in hot plain rice and a dollop of ghee (clarified butter) or with dhal & green.
If you were someone from Tamil Nadu (Southern India), the drumstick leaves or vegetables (drumstick) would be a very familiar green. The tree thrives well in hot and arid region, pretty much many houses own in their backyard. The branches are so slender after slight wind or rain they just broke apart. Usually, after a rainy day, everyone shares with their neighbor this nutritious packet leaves and vegetables.
Yes, the leaves are highly nutritious in beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium.
In US, the tree is know as Horseradish tree and in India Drumstick tree or (murungai maram- in tamil). Moringa Oleifera is biological name given to the tree.
Well, In South –Africa, the tree is used to combat malnutrition especially among nursing mothers and children. The tree is locally grown and is much cheaper than go and buy some milk and egg for them.
For more detailed information visit here.
Left sideshown is younger leaves (pale green) : usually used with dhal or even flavor the ghee
In US, I get this drumstick leaves on and off in Indian stores. So whenever, I see, I just buy a big bunch, clean, rinse, use and even store in my freezer for later use. The leaves tastes great with dhal, I share one of my mom simple and delicious recipe.
Ingredient:
Dhal (toor dhal):1 /2 cup
Drumstick leaves (murungai keerai): 1 cup (loosely packed) -leaves only rinsed
Salt: ½ tsp more or less according ur taste bud
Seasonning:
Tamil Nadu strong belief about this tree and vegetable (drumstick)
1.Eating drumstick will increase sexual mood.
2.Night time, the tree is owned by the ghost!
He he, in my opinion, both are funny! After knowing about this leaves are you going to skip not buying :)
In India and even in South –Africa , the leaves are cheaper than milk and egg. But in US, is totally the reverse!
My drumstick dhal is ending to Weekend herb blogging started by Kalyn and this week Divya will be hosting gladly.
If you were someone from Tamil Nadu (Southern India), the drumstick leaves or vegetables (drumstick) would be a very familiar green. The tree thrives well in hot and arid region, pretty much many houses own in their backyard. The branches are so slender after slight wind or rain they just broke apart. Usually, after a rainy day, everyone shares with their neighbor this nutritious packet leaves and vegetables.
Yes, the leaves are highly nutritious in beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium.
In US, the tree is know as Horseradish tree and in India Drumstick tree or (murungai maram- in tamil). Moringa Oleifera is biological name given to the tree.
Well, In South –Africa, the tree is used to combat malnutrition especially among nursing mothers and children. The tree is locally grown and is much cheaper than go and buy some milk and egg for them.
For more detailed information visit here.
Left sideshown is younger leaves (pale green) : usually used with dhal or even flavor the ghee
Right side: mature (darker green) good for preparing stir fry
In US, I get this drumstick leaves on and off in Indian stores. So whenever, I see, I just buy a big bunch, clean, rinse, use and even store in my freezer for later use. The leaves tastes great with dhal, I share one of my mom simple and delicious recipe.
Drumstick leaves with dhal
Ingredient:
Dhal (toor dhal):1 /2 cup
Salt: ½ tsp more or less according ur taste bud
Seasonning:
Oil: ½ tsp
Urad dhal: ½ tsp
Dry red chillis: 4 Broken into small pieces or more
Method:
Cook the dhal with 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker ((3 whistles in high flame) or in in stove top until they re soft to touch.
Now add the rinsed leaves only and cook until they turn colour (about 6 to 7 minutes).
Now, do the seasoning , heat the oil in small pan, add the urad dhal and chillis.When they are little fried pour into the cooked dhal and leaves.
Using a hand blender, try to blend the chillis with the leaves.Adjust the salt at the end.
Serve with hot rice and little ghee on top.
Urad dhal: ½ tsp
Dry red chillis: 4 Broken into small pieces or more
Method:
Cook the dhal with 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker ((3 whistles in high flame) or in in stove top until they re soft to touch.
Now add the rinsed leaves only and cook until they turn colour (about 6 to 7 minutes).
Now, do the seasoning , heat the oil in small pan, add the urad dhal and chillis.When they are little fried pour into the cooked dhal and leaves.
Using a hand blender, try to blend the chillis with the leaves.Adjust the salt at the end.
Serve with hot rice and little ghee on top.
Tamil Nadu strong belief about this tree and vegetable (drumstick)
1.Eating drumstick will increase sexual mood.
2.Night time, the tree is owned by the ghost!
He he, in my opinion, both are funny! After knowing about this leaves are you going to skip not buying :)
In India and even in South –Africa , the leaves are cheaper than milk and egg. But in US, is totally the reverse!
My drumstick dhal is ending to Weekend herb blogging started by Kalyn and this week Divya will be hosting gladly.
Comments
dal looks yummy! btw hv u posted any masiyal rcp, do post if u get a chance, it sounds so good :)
lol at the beliefs!!!
Missing it now :))
Missing it now :))
Your dal is quite handy Cham! Looks so delicious. Thanks for the nice info. reg the drumstick leaves.
first time in ur blog...urs is really very good ...giving a brief info abt murungai keerai ...
Is murungai keerai available in US?
i am seeing lot of recipes with drumstick leaves...time for me to try it out!!
LoLed at the Tamil Nadu beliefs that you mentioned, all that is true of murunga ellai. I don't know how you get the texture and color (as shown in ur pic) for this keerai by adding dhal, since mine tuen out to be purely yellow.
Mitr.Bay If it is yellow, may be the leaves and dhal ratio are not right! Don't overcook once u added the leaves also.