Drumstick curry (Murungakai Poricha Kozhumbu) with a Twist

Drumstick poricha kozhumbu is rarely made curry. Usually drumstick will be accompaniment for brinjal... like brinjal and drumsticl sambar, brinjal drumstick poriyal etc. Drumstick gives lovely flavour and aroma to any curry..In India we can find murungai maram (Moringa in English) in every other House and u get abundant drumsticks. Here in US we are lucky enough to get frozen drumsticks. This is mom's recipe, whenever she is tired of cooking big meal she used to make this curry. The only twist i made is to add soy chunks in addition to drumsticks.. U have to try this one.. tasted so good...

Ingredients:
10 drumstick piece(frozen ones) OR 2 fresh drumsticks cut into finger lenght pieces
3 tomatoes chopped
1 onion finely chopped
½ tsp o red chilli powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
salt
1/2 cup soy chunks


Paste:
¼ cup coconut (fresh or powder)
1/2" piece ginger
2 garlic cloves
1/2 bunch coriander leaves


Seasoning:
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 garlic minced
curry leaves
½ tsp cumin,


Preparation:


Clean the soy chunks and keep it separately. Grind the ingredients give to a smooth paste.

Heat oil in a pan, add the seasoning one by one in specified order. Add onion and fry till translucent. Add tomatoes and fry till it becomes mushy. U can add little bit of water if it starts sticking to the bottom. Add drumstick,ground paste, redchilli and turmeric powder. Mix well and add 1.5 cups of water. Cover and cook till the drumsticks are tender. Finally add soy chunks and leave it 5 more minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot with rice and and appalam...

Coriander (kothamalli) Rice

I learnt this recipe from our neighbour. When we lived in Thiruvannamalai, we had a Kannada neighbour and she is very good cook!!!. Any special occasions shows up, she use to make this coriander rice which is simple and easy to make. I added Soy chucks (meal maker) in addition to the ingredients. I like the taste of meal maker and it also has good protein content. I love obbattu which she makes for new year and other special days!!!

Ingredients:

2 cups Basmati Rice

1 cup soy chunks (meal maker)

2 chopped tomatoes

1 big bunch coriander (kothamalli)

6 green chillies

4 tbsp grated coconut

6 garlic flakes

5 cloves

4 cardamom

2 Cinnamon pieces

1 bay leaf

1" ginger

2 tbsp ghee

salt to taste

Preparation

Grind Coriander, garlic, ginger, greenchillies and coconut to a fine paste.

Soy chunks needs proper cleaning. Check Soy chunk cleaning?

Heat Ghee in a pan, add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon , bay leaf for seasoning. Fry for few mts. Add the ground paste. It will take few seconds for the raw smell to vanish. Add chopped tomatoes and fry till mushy. Add rice, soy chunks, salt and 3.5 cups water. Cover and cook till done.

Serve hot with Onion Raita!!!

Note: Adjust green chillies according to ur taste.

Rice and water Ratio: Usually it will be 1:2, Gravy will have water that's why i changed

the ratio. Too much water will make rice to be sticky!!!

I am sending this to Harvest-the festival rice hosted by Sudeshna of Bengali cuisine.