HOME        |        ABOUT        |        COPYRIGHT        |        CONTACT        |         RECIPE INDEX        |         INDIAN THAALIS        |         MILLET RECIPES        |        EVENTS' ROUNDUP        

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Simple Meals ~ Moong Dal Sambhar & Pineapple Rasam


Here is a simple, comforting meal cooked in my kitchen, on this chilly weekend day. A spicy moong dal sambhar, a fruity rasam bursting with flavors and homemade yogurt served along with hot, steamed rice.

Ingredients: (Serves 4 - 6)
1/2 cup moong dal
1 cup mixed, chopped vegetables (I used carrot, beans & tomato)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 Tbsp sambhar powder
1 tsp chili powder or to taste
Salt to taste
Thick tamarind juice to taste or about 3 Tbsp (a lime sized tamarind soaked in water and puree extracted.)
For tadka: 2 tsp oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, a pinch of asafoetida and few curry leaves

Method:
* Rinse the moong dal in water and drain. Cook moong dal along with veggies and turmeric powder adding about a cup of water. This can be done either in a thick pan or a pressure cooker. If using a pan then use water accordingly and cook uncovered. There is no need to soak the moong dal since it cooks faster.
* Heat the oil in another pan and add the tadka ingredients. When mustard & cumin seeds start to sizzle, add the cooked dal mixture, salt, chili powder, sambhar powder and tamarind. Also add about 2 cups of water to reach the sambhar consistency. Check the taste and adjust the ingredients if needed.
* Bring the mixture to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for a few minutes more. Garnish with cilantro and serve with hot, steamed rice / rotis.

Now lets move on to today's second recipe, pineapple rasam. This one is a tangy, spicy and sweet rasam that goes well with hot steamed rice, ghee and some papads. A totally comforting meal. All the good stuff is hidden somewhere in that watery broth and is invisible. J



Ingredients: (4 servings)
1 cup pineapple cubes
1/4 cup cooked and mashed toor dal
1/4 cup pineapple puree
2 - 3 Tbsp or as needed - tamarind juice
1.5 or 2 tsp rasam powder
Jaggery to taste
Salt to taste
1 /4 tsp turmeric powder
1 - 2 Tbsp Cilantro leaves
For tadka: 2 tsp ghee / oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, a pinch of asafoetida, few curry leaves, 1 or 2 green chillies, slit lengthwise and 1 or 2 red chilli broken into bits

Method:
* Heat the ghee / oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds and cumin seeds. When they start to sizzle, add the chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida. Fry for a few seconds and then add the pineapple cubes. Add about a cup of water and keep cooking until pineapples are done.
*  Then add the mashed toor dal, pineapple puree, salt, rasam powder, turmeric powder, jaggery and tamarind. Bring to a rolling boil, lower the heat and simmer for a couple of minutes. Add the minced cilantro before turning off the stove.


This to going to Design a Menu - 3 by Harini - Jaya. My menu for the event is going to be
Appetizers:  Aloo tikki and Potato chaklis
Main course:  Vegetable - Coconut rice, Stuffed tindora, Moongdal sambhar and Pineapple rasam.


16 comments:

harini-jaya said...

Good one. Pesarapappu sambar doesn't taste too different from the regular sambar, kada. I interchange the dals for variation but find no difference.

I have been eyeing the pineapple rasam for quite some time now. I think after seeing this post of yours, I am going to make it for tomorrow's dinner :)

Thanks for the entry. I loved the spread :)

Nitha said...

delicious meal...

Suganya said...

Both the recipes are mouthwatering. Perfect recipes to relish with hot rice.... YUM!

Hari Chandana P said...

Woww... Yummy yummy recipes.. Delicious :)
Indian Cuisine

Aarthi said...

lovely recipes...

purabi naha said...

I loved both of these. Dals and rasam are my favourites! I am hearing about pineapple rasam for the first time. Shall visit here again very soon! Haapy cooking!

chef and her kitchen said...

I prefer sambar wid moong dal for tiffins...lovely tangy pineapple rasam..simple n yummy meals..

swapna said...

Delicious spread....looks lovely!!

Sravs said...

Perfect meal and delicious recipes !!

Unknown said...

both the recipes are new to me and look delicious and very very tempting.

Priya Suresh said...

Both looks comforting and inviting, fabulous dishes together.

Deepthi Shankar said...

pineapple rasam looks umm .. tangy & tasty

KrithisKitchen said...

Love to soak idlis in moong dhal sambar... just divine..

http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
Event: Healing Foods - Banana

Hotel Istanbul said...

I tried. really very tasty.

Engagement Rings said...

Good recipe. I will try this.

Anonymous said...

Ithink the admin of this site is really working hard inn support
of his web site, because here every material is quality based material.