Sunday, March 10, 2013

Cabbage Parupu Usili



Paruppu Usili is a very popular South Indian side dish known by various names. Prepared using vegetables like French Beans, Cluster Beans, Flat Beans, Banana Blossom etc and steamed lentils, this dry side dish is one of my favorites.

I prefer this over the regular thorans. I especially love the spiced steamed lentils. Whenever I prepare usili, I soak a little extra dal, so that I get a little more of the steamed lentil cakes. I enjoy eating these as such.

Each family has a different way of preparing this, the amount of lentils is also not fixed. Some like more lentils, whereas some like more vegetables. I prefer to keep it balanced. The kind of dal used also is a personal preference. In my house, we generally use a combination of Tuvar and Channa dal. The method of preparation also differs, some grind the lentils and fry 
directly some like me steam the ground lentils. Steaming is a more popular method since amount of oil used is lesser this way.

Since this is a dry curry and is very filling due to the addition of lentils, it is perfect with white rice and rasam. This is of course my preference, but it is a great accompaniment to Sambar and Mor Kuzhambu as well.




Serves: 3 to 4
What you’ll need
  1. Cabbage – 5 cups (finely chopped)
  2. Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp
  3. Asafoetida – a generous pinch
  4. Curry Leaves – few sprigs
  5. Salt to taste

For soaking
  1. Bengal Gram Dal/Kadala Paruppu – ¼ cup
  2. Tuvar Dal – ¼ cup
  3. Dried Red Chilly – 2

For Tempering
  1. Oil – 1 tbsp
  2. Mustard Seeds – ½ tsp
  3. Broken Urad Dal – ½ tsp

Method
  1. Wash the dals in 2 or 3 exchanges of water and soak along with red chillies for 30 minutes.
  2. Drain completely and grind the dals along with red chillies, asafoetida, salt to taste and curry leaves into a coarse paste. Do not add water while grinding.
  3. Grease an idly mould, take a lemon sized ball of the ground mixture and pat into the idly grooves.
  4. Steam for 6 to 7 minutes.
  5. Let this cool then pulse it in the mixie again, so that it becomes a fine powder. Keep aside.
  6. In the meanwhile, heat a kadai with oil splutter with mustard seeds and urad dal.
  7. Once he dal turns golden, add the chopped cabbage, turmeric powder, and salt to taste. Mix well and cook covered, without adding water.
  8. Keep stirring once in a while.
  9. Once the cabbage is done, add the ground dal powder and roast for 6 to 7 minutes on low heat.



Cabbage Usili is ready. Serve with plain rice and Samabr/Rasam/Mor Kootan.

Note: Do not add water while cooking cabbage, as the curry will then turn very mushy. Just adding salt and cooking covered would do.

Linking this to Healthy Me Healthy Us


31 comments:

Unknown said...

healthy and easy to prepare dish. loved those clicks. i have never tried using tuvar dal for this. looks delicious

Sangeetha Priya said...

Healthy n delicious usili...loved it.

Prema said...

Delicious usili Kaveri,love the presentation...make me hungry:)

Treat and Trick said...

Good recipe and looks so yum!

Swathi said...

cabbage parippu usili looks delicious.

divyagcp said...

Healthy and delicious! Very inviting!

Sudha Sabarish said...

Love paruppu usili with any veggies.

Aruna Manikandan said...

haven't tried cabbage this way, will try this soon,
looks delicious :)

Nisha said...

Nice idea

anjana said...

Healthy and delicious stir fry.

Unknown said...

liked your version.. healthy fry..

Laxmipriya said...

healthy.. i generally make usili with beans.. will try with cabbage sometime.. :)

Sona said...

love this, looks delicious.

Vimitha Durai said...

Never tried usili with cabbage. will try soon. nice dish

Priya Suresh said...

Love to finish that whole mini kadai rite now,irresistible and seriously tempting.

Anonymous said...

Hey Kaveri.. Love your blog and as per me you are a very inspiring blogger. So heres the same award for you. Do collect it from .. http://www.tadkamasala.com/my-first-award/

Rafeeda AR said...

this looks delicious... :)

Roshni said...

i love paruppusli.. u have made it perfectly

Sanoli Ghosh said...

Healthy and delicious cabbage recipe. Never heard about it. Looks perfect as a side dish.

today's post:
http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.in/2013/03/vegetarian-keema-soya-granules-curry.html

Hamaree Rasoi said...

your presentation makes me hungry...you are right cabbage just needs salt and if we cover it for few minutes water is not required

Ms.Chitchat said...

Yesterday I made avarakka Paruppu usli. This is new to me. Would definitely try. Very nice click.

divya said...

OMG !!!!!!!!!!!... Just amazing dear.. looks super perfect and awesome..

My World My Home said...

Yummy paruppu usili...:-)

Unknown said...

Hope things are going well Kaveri. Paruppu Usili looks yum, I do the steaming method too as it is much healthier, never tried with cabbage though.

Unknown said...

What a delicious and healthy recipe. I think you should send it to my "Healthy Me & Healthy Us" event :)

Julie said...

healthy nutritious side dish,great with rice!!
Participate & win e gift vouchers in Flavors Of Cuisines-"Chinese"

Unknown said...

Very healthy and yummy cabbage usili..

Ruxana Gafoor said...

healthy and yummy....hi first time here..following u..do visit my blog when you are free..

Jeyashris Kitchen said...

My mil makes this often. Nicely presented

Hema said...

Love this with moru kuzhambu, neat presentation..

Unknown said...

a generous Asafoetida -- usig generous --I like your narration. very simple words step by step !!! Lovely yar !!
hats off to your service/blog !!!!

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