Thotakura pappu (తోట కూర పప్పు, தொட்டகுற பப்பு, तोटकूरा पप्पू, തോടകുര പപ്പു)

Thotakura pappu (తోట కూర పప్పు, தொட்டகுற பப்பு, तोटकूरा पप्पू, തോടകുര പപ്പു) is a very common dal in the Andhra house holds.

Regional dish : Andhra Pradesh; Tamilnadu; Karnataka; South India; Some places in North India.

Cuisine style : Andhra| Cooking Time 30 minutes | Take with Rice | Type Dal | Shelf Life : 1 day| Quantity: 4 Servings.

Appx. Nutritional values :calculated for whole recipe

Calories (209 Kcal), Carbohydrates (40.19 g), Protein (12.05 g), Fat (0.73 g).

Ingredients :

• Toor dal (kandi pappu)    3/4 cup pressure cook until soft and mash
• Tightly packed thotakura leaves     2 cups (not the stalks)
• Small onion    1 finely chopped
• Green chillis     4-5   slit length wise
• Turmeric powder     1/4 tsp
• Lemon sized tamarind (soak in a cup of warm water and extract)

For tempering/poppu/tadka :

• Oil  1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds   1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds   1/2 tsp
• Split black gram dal 1/2 tsp
• Channa dal  1/2 tsp
• Dried red chillis 4-5  (tear into pieces)
• Garlic flakes 5-6  crushed
• Curry leaves 10-12

Method:

1. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel, add mustard seeds.
2. When they pop, add the cumin seeds, split gram dal and channa dal and let them brown.
3. Next add the garlic, red chillis, curry leaves, chopped onions and green chillis and sauté till onions turn slightly pink.
4. Add the thotakura and stir fry for 3-4 minutes.
5. Add the turmeric pwd and salt and combine.
6. Cover with lid and cook till the greens cook (approx 7-8 minutes).
7. Using the back of the ladle, mash the contents slightly.
8. Add the cooked and mashed dal to the onion-thotakura mixture.
9. Cook for another 4-5 minutes on medium heat.
10. Add the tamarind extract and combine well.
11. Cook for another 9-10 mts or till the rawness of tamarind disappears.
12. It should be a thick consistency dal.

Other variants /Cuisine Style : 1. Amaranta leaves with moong dal 2. Thotakura pappu with Tomato 3. Thotaku pappu with lentils.