Madhu’s vantalu

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Thotakura pappu (Amaranth leaves Dal)

Posted by Madhavi on February 25, 2008

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  • Thotakura pappu is a very common dal in the Andhra house holds. I remember my mom making this dal at least twice a week. After moving to U.S Amaranth leaves have become like a childhood memory for me. I don’t see them that often in the Indian grocery stores here. But when i do find them, I don’t miss a chance in making this dal.
  • Pappu (dal) with some kind of greens or veggies is very common in Andhra. Pappu with hot rice, a dollop of ghee and avakaya (mango pickle) on the side are sure to please your taste buds. Simple and clean flavors which takes me down the memory lane.
    • Preparation is very simple. Take the amaranth leaves with toor dal, onion, green chille and tomato to a pressure cooker. Cook until soft and finally do the tempering. It can’t get any simpler than this.
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    Recipe:

    • Toor dal: half cup
    • amaranth leaves- a bunch
    • onion- 1/2
    • Red juicy tomato- 1
    • Green chille- 3 to 4
    • Tamarind paste- 2 tsp
    • and salt.

    Procedure:

    Cut the onion, green chille and tomatoe into small pieces. Wash the Amarath leaves, drain the water and chop them. Now take the toor dal, amarath leaves, green chille, onion and tomato with a pinch of turmeric in a vessel. Cook it in the pressure cooker till soft.

    Once cooked, mash a bit and do the tempering with a tsp of oil, few mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp chana dal, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, few curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida.

    Add the tempering to the cooked dal mixture. Now add the salt and tamarind and return the dal mixture to the stove and cook for another five minutes.

    Serve the pappu with hot rice.

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    12 Responses to “Thotakura pappu (Amaranth leaves Dal)”

    1. Jayashree said

      Nice and healthy recipe…thx.

    2. Asha said

      I love the photo. Dal surrounded by eggs. Earth and the Sun! Dal looks delcious Madhavi!:)

    3. Madhavi said

      Thanks Jayashree.

      Asha,
      Thanks dear for the compliments. I took the pic in the evening sunlight in our backyard.

      Madhavi.

    4. priyaskitchen said

      perfect..i have just purchased the greens today..now this i will make….

    5. Uma said

      Lovely pappu. My most fav. item.

    6. swapna said

      hi madhavi,
      i love all the recipes with thotakura but we dont get it here in UK.ur recipe is reminding me all the gud olden days when i was a kid.anyways gr8 pic.
      looking forward for more recipes from u.looks like ur daughter is keeping u busy.
      gud luck.

      swapna

      That’s true swapna. My daughter definitely keeps me busy and i think i am getting lazy also.
      Inspite of it I love blogging, its a way of relaxing and doing what u enjoy.

      Madhavi.

    7. Mona said

      I love to have dal with Amaranth leaves! Wanna have tat now, i never saw Amaranth leaves at my place.. :-(

    8. Ramki said

      Hi Madhavi ,

      I’ve blogged your pappu as a model recipe in the 1001 South Indian Curries cookbook at
      http://ramkicooks.blogspot.com

      /Thanks for the detailed recipe

      Ramki

    9. swapna said

      madhavi garu,
      yenti full busy naa,roju mee website chusthunna,kothavi yemi pettadam ledhu.
      just want to let u know that iam eagerly waiting for another recipe of urs.

      swapna.

      Life has been quite hectic from few months. Though i feel like blogging, at the end of the day it gets so tiring. But not to disappoint u i will blog few recipes in the coming days.

      Madhavi.

    10. Prathima said

      Dear Madavi,
      Thanks for the receipe. In chennai the thottakura is something different, there is no such violet veins on the leaves.What are the other identification for thotta kura.

    11. Aruna said

      Hi Prathima,

      I come from Andhra and the most commonly available variety is green amaranth. In US indian stores, I am finding only the violet/maroon veined thotakura. Hope this info helps.

    12. Janet Ann said

      I love your blog and share your enthusiasm for the succulent amaranth leaves, which we enjoy in soups, salads, and many other dishes. I hope you do not mind that I have included your link in an article I am writing for Triond.

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