This Kerala-Style Masoor Dal Curry Is Ideal For A Wholesome Meal

Dal defines comfort for every person across India. Pair it with rice or roti, dal makes for a wholesome meal any time of the day. Wonder what is the reason behind such massive popularity? It is the affordability, accessibility and enriched nutrient profile that add to the popularity of a bowl of dal. What fascinates us the most is the variety. We find a wide variety of dal across India – each of which has unique recipes in each regional cuisine. Take masoor dal (red lentil) for instance. It is a storehouse of protein, fibre, potassium, vitamins, folic acid, calcium, zinc and manganese – making masoor dal a super healthy ingredient for overall nourishment. You can use masoor dal to make Punjabi dal tadka, Rajasthani panchmel dal, Bengali tok dal and more. Another popular masoor dal recipe is parippu curry from Kerala cuisine.

Also Read: 7 Street Foods From Kerala That Should Be On Every Foodie’s List

What is parippu curry?

In Malayalam, red lentil or masoor dal is referred to as chuvana parippu (or simply parippu). Parippu curry is a comforting South Indian side dish, usually paired with rice, ghee and some veg side dish. Traditionally, parippu curry is prepared to put together a celebratory meal, especially the ones served on traditional banana leaves (Sadya).

How to make parippu curry?

Here, masoor dal is boiled and mixed with coconut-onion paste and simmered until it turns thick. It is then topped with a flavourful South Indian tadka of curry leaves, mustard seeds and more. To make parippu curry, all you need is a few pantry-staple and not more than 30 minutes. So, without further ado, let’s take you through the recipe.

Step-by-step recipe of Kerala-style masoor dal (parippu curry):

• First, wash the dal and pressure cook with turmeric powder, salt and water.
• Release heat after 5-6 whistles and whisk until it turns thick and creamy.
• Now, add grated coconut, green chillies, jeera, onion and water in a blender.
• Blend into a smooth paste.
• Pour the boiled dal and the coconut paste in a kadhai.
• Let it boil together on a medium flame.
• Prepare a tadka by adding coconut oil, mustard seeds, red chilli and curry leaves to a pan.
• Add onions to it and fry till golden in colour.
• Pour the tadka on the dal-coconut curry and you have parippu curry ready to be relished.
• Serve hot with some rice by the side. Click here for the detailed recipe.

The recipe looks oh-so-delicious; isn’t it? What are you waiting for? Try the dish today and let us know how you liked it.

Enjoy your meal!

About Somdatta SahaExplorer- this is what Somdatta likes to call herself. Be it in terms of food, people or places, all she craves for is to know the unknown. A simple aglio olio pasta or daal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.