Murungai Keerai / Moringa Leaves Sambar

Murungai Keerai / Moringa Leaves Sambar

Murungai keerai sambar is yet another recipe which kindles my nostalgia memories. I remember my mom making this from my childhood days. 

It was an easy recipe. unlike other sambars, there is no waiting time for the vegetables in it to cook as it does not have any veggies. But, this sambar has an unique aroma because of the drumstick leaves added to it.

For a change, just skip the tamarind and reduce the amount of dhal, onion, tomato and spice in it and it becomes drumstick leaves-dhal soup. 

Cleaning drumstick leaves too is easy. If the greens are from known home tree, we never wash it too. straight from the tree to the sambar. sambar onions gives additional goodness and flavour. Then imagine the authenticity of the drumstick leaves' flavours this sambar must have obtained.

let us jump to the recipe.

Ingredients:

• bunch of drumstick leaves
• thoor dhal - 1/2 cup
• small onions (sambar onions) - 10 to 15
• tomato - medium
• tamarind water - extracted from one gooseberry size tamarind.
• chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
• coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
• turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• salt - as required
• mustard - 1 teaspoon
• urad dhal - 1 teaspoon
• dry red chillies - 4
• asafoetida - 1 pinch
• oil - 1 tablespoon

Procedure:

• clean and keep the drumstick leaves ready.
• wash and cook the dhall and keep ready.
• heat the oil in a vessel and add the mustard and urad dhal. add the dry red chillies and asafoetida too.
• once the urad dhal turns red, add the onions.
• saute. then add tomatoes. 
• add salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder and coriander powder. 
• saute till the tomatoes turns soft.
• add the drumstick leaves and stir for few minutes. stir till the leaves wilt and this takes 3 minutes.
• now add the dhall and some water to bring it to sambar consistency.
• let it come to a boil and boil for just 3 minutes. 
• add the tamarind water and let it boil for another 5 minutes.
• awesome murungai keerai or drumstick leaves / moringa leaves sambar is ready.

serve this murungai keerai sambar with white rice and a nice spicy roast as side dish. a simple and healthy dish for a simple and healthy meal. 

Happy cooking !!