Gongura pappu (Gongura flavored dal)

Gongura is a leafy vegetable, which is very famous in India, especially in Andhra Pradesh. Gongura comes in two varieties, green stemmed leaf and red stemmed. The red stemmed variety is sourer than green stemmed one. 

Gongura has many health benefits as it has lots of fiber. The leaves are a rich source of iron, vitamin A, C, and B6. The leaves have calcium, iron and Gongura contains a lot of antioxidants essential for human nutrition. Gongura is rich in essential minerals like calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and iron. 

As gongura has all the above minerals etc. consuming gongura improves digestive health, prevents cancer and anemia, helps in keeping heart healthy and lowers blood pressure.

Many tasty dishes like chutney, dal, flavored rice etc are prepared. The most popular dish is of course pickle type of chutney. Because of the tangy taste, many non vegetarian dishes like gongura chicken, gongura mutton etc are very popular. I have prepared gongura dal which is very healthy and tasty.

Ingredients:

•      1 cup toor/masoor dal
•      1 cup gongura leaves
•      2 or 3 green chiles
•      2 or 3 Tbsp. onions chopped
•      8 or 10 garlic pods
•      1/2 Tsp. turmeric powder
•      Salt to taste

Seasoning:

•      2 Tsp. oil
•      2 red chiles
•      1 Tsp. urad dal
•      1 Tsp. mustard seeds
•      1 Tsp. jeera seeds
•      Pinch of hing (asafetida)

Directions:

1.      Wash and dry gongura plants.
2.      Pinch the leaves and separate them from stems.
3.      Chop the leaves coarsely.
4.      Wash and cook the dal in pressure cooker.
5.      When the cooker gets to normal pressure, open the lid.
6.      Add oil to a heated thick bottomed pan.
7.      Add red chile and stir well.
8.      After a minute, add urad dal, jeera and mustard seeds.
9.      Mix well.
10.      When mustard seeds splutter, add gongura leaves and chopped onion.
11.      Add 1/2 cup water.
12.      Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
13.      Remove cooked dal from cooker.
14.      Mash the dal roughly.
15.      When onion pieces are cooked, add the dal.
16.      Add turmeric powder, and salt.
17.      Add green chiles.
18.      Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring well.
19.      Heat oil in a small pan.
20.      Add garlic and saute for a few minutes.
21.      When garlic pods are turning brown, add them to the cooked dal.
22.      Cook for 2 minutes. 
23.      Remove from heat. 
24.      Transfer to a serving dish.
25.      Tastes tangy and nice. Can be served with rice or roti.