Chukka Kura Pappu

Chukkakura is also called as katti palak in Hindi and Garden Sorrel in English. Whatever is the name it looks cute, fresh, naughty and its really sour. I'm not a very sour-crazy person - but my husband is. Since i'm not using much of tamarind to satiate his appetite for sour food - why not i go healthy way. The first time i had this was at one of my pedhamma's homes(My mother has 6 sisters ). Hot noon, hot rice, ghee, appadams and this fresh soury pachadi. I customized with a dollop of ghee, freshly chopped onions & this pachadi. Yummy!!! Its mout-watering now also - even after 3 years :-) . Though i took out these cute fellas was to make pachadi - damn! i got sucha a flickering mind - i've decided to go for dal.

Somehow i did'nt wanted to go for my usual way of preparing dal.
The usual way is i dump onion, garlic, tampering in the cooker and i'm done. Quickest way right!!! I decided to do it a lil different. Different way of tampering that i've learnt from my rayalaseema sis-in-law :-) On Holi Day - she prepared tomato dal with this "seema-style" of tampering.
Its something like dal tadka sans tomatoes and with south spices.

Fresssshhh curry leaves and coriander is great in tamperings.
As alwayz overdid the garlic part :-)
This is sour , tangy, i liked the texture of these leaves.
Yumm! Yummy!

Ingredients:

• Chukka Kura - 10 Kattas
• Toor Dal - 2 Cups
• Water - 4 Cups
• Green Chillies - 6 - Finely Chopped
• Onion - Medium Size - 1
• Garlic - Finely Chopped - 5
• Curry Leaves - Finely Chopped - Fisful
• Coriander - Finely Chopped - 5 Tbsp
• Turmeric - 1 Tea Sp
• Salt - Acc to taste

Tampering:

• Mustard Seeds - 2 Tea Sp
• Jeera - 2 Tea Sp
• Oil - 1 TbSp
• Ghee - 2 Tea sp
• Broken Red Chillies - 2

Method:

• Add washed dal, chopped chukka kura , salt, turmeric to the cooker.
• Add enough water and put on stove.
• Cook until dal is done.
• Take a pan - add oil+ghee.
• Once hot - add mustard, jeera, broken red chillies minced garlic, curry leaves
• Once they splutter - add green chillies,onions.
• Wait until onions turn pink.
• Add turmeric and stir.
• Adjust salt & Chilly.
• Add finely chopped coriander.
• Add this to the cooker.
• Bring to a boil.

You can adjust your consistency.
I usually like loose dal - kind of soupy - so i add more water.
You may use 3 cups of water to boil to 2 cups of dal.

Serve with hot piping rice or rotis :-)

Nutritional Values :

Sorrel leaves nutritional value; Sorrel leaves or plant comprise many essential vitamins, namely Vitamin B9, Provitamin A, Vitamin C, and consists of carbohydrates, fats, dietary fiber, proteins, and Iron, magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, also contains essential flavanoid antioxidants. In addition to these, it posses antibacterial, anticancer and astringent properties, all contribute to prevent ill health and improve general health.

Reference : http://ideas4health.in/health-ideas/vegetables/sorrel-leaves-nutritional-facts/