Methi Dal or Menthi Kura Pappu (Telugu) combines the goodness of fresh green methi (fenugreek) leaves with the nutritional benefits of tur dal. This is a delicious and healthy dal recipe where Tuvar dal is flavoured with fresh methi leaves.
Andhra Menthi Kura Pappu is a popular Indian dish that combines the earthy flavors of lentils with the unique taste of fenugreek leaves. This hearty and nutritious meal is not only delicious but also packed with health benefits.
Goodness of Methi:
Fenugreek seeds are commonly used in Indian cuisine. Fresh or dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) are used to flavour Indian dishes.
Fenugreek or Methi is a powerful medicinal plant. The bitter-tasting fenugreek reduces cholesterol, prevents diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels, protects against cancer and aids digestion. It also lowers inflammation, boosts testosterone and controls appetite.
Fenugreek Methi Dal Step By Step:
Methiwali dal is a simple yet appetising dish. This is absolutely my favourite dal.
- To make menthi kura pappu, firstly wash the tur dal well and pressure cook the dal with turmeric and sufficient water till soft.
- Wait for the pressure to release, open the lid and mash the dal well.
- Meanwhile thoroughly wash methi leaves till the water runs clear. Then pick the leaves, roughly chop them and set aside.
- Next finely chop onion and tomato, slit the chilli and lightly crush garlic flakes.
- Heat a little ghee in a pan. Add dry red chilli, fresh curry leaves, hing, mustard seeds and cumin seeds and saute for two minutes.
- Then toss in chopped onion, garlic pods and green chilli. Fry for a couple of minutes till the onion becomes slightly brown.
- Put in the fenugreek leaves and saute for a couple of minutes.
- Now put in the chopped tomato, add a pinch of turmeric and sauté till the tomatoes turn soft.
- Next pour in the cooked toor dal and add the tamarind paste. Season with salt and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Add water if the dal is too thick. Remove.
- Serve Methi Dal with steaming hot Rice and Papad.
If you are searching for more dal recipes, then do try out Lemon Dal
Methi Dal Serving Suggestions
Methi Dal pairs wonderfully with various Indian breads and rice dishes. Here are some serving suggestions:
- Serve with steamed rice for a classic combination.
- Enjoy with hot, freshly made roti or naan bread.
- Pair with jeera rice for an extra flavor boost.
- Serve alongside a side of yogurt or raita for a cooling effect.
Variations of Menthi Kura Pappu
While the classic Menthi Kura Pappu is delicious on its own, there are several variations you can try:
- Spinach Methi Dal: Add some chopped spinach along with the fenugreek leaves for extra nutrition and a vibrant green color.
- Methi Moong Dal: Use moong dal (split green gram) instead of toor dal for a lighter version of the dish.
- Methi Dal with Coconut: Add some grated coconut towards the end of cooking for a unique flavor profile.
Tips for Perfect Methi Dal
To ensure your Menthi Kura Pappu turns out perfectly every time, keep these tips in mind:
- Soak the lentils for 30 minutes before cooking to reduce cooking time and improve digestibility.
- Don’t overcook the fenugreek leaves, as they can turn bitter.
- Adjust the consistency of the dal according to your preference by adding more or less water.
- For a richer flavor, use ghee instead of oil for cooking.
- If fresh fenugreek leaves are not available, you can use dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi) as a substitute.
- To reduce the bitterness of fenugreek leaves, soak them in warm water with a pinch of salt for 10-15 minutes before using.
- For a smoother texture, you can blend the cooked dal before adding the fenugreek leaves.
Andhra Menthi Kura Pappu Recipe details below:
Methi Dal Recipe
Ingredients
- Methi/menthu kura/fenugreek leaves – ½ cup
- Tur dal/ kandi pappu – ½ cup
- Onion – 1 small
- Tomato – 1 small
- Green Chilli – 1
- Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
- Garlic Flakes – 2
- Red Chillies – 1
- Curry Leaves – 1 sprig
- Cumin Seeds – ¼ tsp
- Mustard Seeds – ¼ tsp
- Salt to taste
- Tamarind paste – 1 tsp
- Hing/Asafoetida – a pinch, optional
- Oil – ½ tbsp
- Ghee – ½ tbsp
- Water - 2 cups
Instructions
- To make methi leaves dal, slit the green chilli, finely slice the onion, chop the tomato and slightly crush the garlic flakes. Wash and pick the methi leaves.
- Wash Tur dal and pressure cook until the dal is well-cooked.
- Once the pressure is released, remove lid, mash dal well.
- Heat ghee in a pan and add whole red chilli, curry leaves, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fry for 2 minutes.
- Add slit green chilli, sliced onion, and lightly crushed garlic. Stir for 2 minutes until the onion turns translucent.
- Add methi leaves and fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Add chopped tomatoes and turmeric and cook covered till soft.
- Pour in the cooked dal. Mix well and add salt and tamarind paste.
- Simmer for 3-4 minutes and remove.
- Serve South Indian Menthi Kura Pappu with steamed Rice or Rotis.
Notes
- To reduce the bitterness of Fenugreek leaves, sprinkle a little salt over them and keep aside for 10-15 minutes. Squeeze the leaves and wash in water.
- A variation of this recipe is to heat oil in a pressure cooker and saute chopped onions, garlic, green chillies, methi leaves and tomatoes. Add the dal and turmeric and pressure cook till soft. Open the lid, add salt and bring to a boil. Heat ghee in a pan and add whole red chilli, curry leaves, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fry for 2 minutes. Add this Talimpu (Telugu for tempering) to the dal.
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