Keerai Mologutal South Indian Spinach Lentil Stew Food

KEERAI MOLOGUTAL (SOUTH INDIAN SPINACH-LENTIL STEW)

Steps:

• Make sure that you don't dry the spinach after washing.
• Cook the chopped spinach in a microwavable bowl, covered, in a microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes, with 1 teaspoon salt, stirring thrice.
• Set aside to cool.
• Add water, lentils, and turmeric in a pot, bring to a boil, and simmer for 30 minutes, or until lentils are tender.
• Do not drain.
• Grind coconut, cumin, red chili, with 1/2 cup water in a blender, to a paste.
• Remove from the blender and set aside.
• In the same blender (you needn't wash it), separately grind the spinach coarsely (don't make it into a paste!).
• Mix the spinach, coconut paste, and cooked lentils (along with its water) together in a large pot and bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from the flame and set aside.
• While the spinach-lentil mixture is boiling, in a small frying pan, heat the oil, and add mustard seeds and Urad dal.
• When the mustard sputters, pour the contents of the frying pan into the spinach-lentil mixture.
• Stir, and serve hot, over plained steamed rice.

SPINACH KEERAI (SOUTH INDIAN SPINACH STEW)

Steps:

• Cook greens in the wok, adding water if necessary.
• Add salt and turmeric powder.
• Add dal and heat.
• Grind coconut, cumin, chili, and rice flower until fine. Add water if needed so it isn't chunky.
• Add ground spices to spinach/dal mix.
• Adding water if necessary, grind (with blender or immersion blender) until parts are a puree and parts still look like bits of leaves. You don't want a smooth paste. Consistency should be like a smoothie, only with leaf bits.
• In a small pan, heat the oil. Add mustard seeds and heat until they pop and turn grey.
• Pour oil and mustard seeds on the keerai, stir and serve.