Watercress & Yellow Moong Dal Recipe

These pictures have been lying in my drafts for ages. In fact, TH's amma made this one day along with the chow chow kootu which I managed to post much earlier. I have made this dal twice after this first time she tried it.

Watercress is not something that makes it into my regular shopping list. In fact, before amma came and tried this, I'd never even tasted it. It definitely has a strong flavour which I thought went beautifully with dal.

Watercress Yellow Dal Recipe
Serves 4
Recipe source: TH's amma
Some other recipes from her: chow chow koottu | kadala kozhambu | tomato juice rasam

Ingredients:
1 bunch watercress
½ cup toor dal or moong dal, washed and soaked for 30 mins
1 large onion, chopped
1 tomato, chopped (optional)
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chilli powder

For tempering:
1 teaspoon ghee or oil
¼ teaspoon fennel seeds / perum jeerakam
¼ teaspoon cumin powder or seeds / jeera
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
1 red chilli
A generous pinch of hing

How It's Made:

1. Wash and chop the watercresses leaves fine. Add to the soaked dal along with the rest of the ingredients (apart form the tempering ones) into a pressure cooker with enough water to cover it by an inch.

2. Cook for 3-4 whistles or until the dal has cooked soft and mashed well with the leaves and other ingredients. Let the steam vent and keep the dal mixture ready to temper.

3. For tempering, heat ghee (or oil) in a pan and add the rest of the ingredients in the order given. When the mustard seeds start to pop and the cumin and fennel turn aromatic, dunk into the dal and keep partially closed for a while while the flavours blend. Add salt.

Serve hot with rice or roti.

I think I have posted every day this week. Its not some personal challenge or anything. I have a ton of great recipes like these waiting to be posted and the backlog is huge. Sorry if I am spamming your readers 🙂

Comments

CinnamonNChillies

August 27, 2011 at 6:06 pm

Hello Nags. Landed into your space (I think this is 2nd time )while browsing some food blogs. You have some gr8 dishes here. Glad to follow u via FB. Do visit my space too whenever u get time 🙂

Sharada
http://www.CinnamonNChillies.com

Anusha

August 27, 2011 at 5:45 pm

Hey Nags, I love the recipe but could you tell me what is watercress called in hindi or tamil?

Gayathri NG

August 27, 2011 at 4:40 pm

i have never tried this but dhal looks simple and classy..

Priya

August 27, 2011 at 8:12 am

Wat a healthy and comforting dal..

notyet100

August 27, 2011 at 2:33 am

Still to try watercess,dal looks so delicious

Nitha

August 26, 2011 at 6:35 pm

I ve never tried this.. But looks delicious..

Sharmilee! :)

August 27, 2011 at 2:22 am

Sounds comforting dhal with rice.....Looks tempting

Arch

August 26, 2011 at 12:52 pm

Never tried watercress...love moong dal in any avatar !

Divya Vikram

August 26, 2011 at 4:44 pm

Love the color. Looks vibrant and delicious..

RAKS KITCHEN

August 26, 2011 at 10:15 am

Never cooked watercress so far,sounds good!

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