Paruppu Usili, is a common side dish, made in most Tamilian homes . It ‘s eaten with rice . Usually, it is made with beans / cluster beans or banana flower . Lentils are ground , steamed and mixed with cooked vegetable, to make a healthy side dish . Paruppu Usili , makes for an interesting side dish with Mor Kuzhambu and hot rice .
Ingredients
- Capsicum 4 medium size ( chopped small )
- Tuvar dal half a cup
- Red chilies 4
- Salt 2 teaspoons
- Oil 2 teaspoons
- Mustard 1 teaspoon
- Curry leaves few
- Turmeric Powder 1/2 teaspoon
- Asafoetida or Hing 1/2 teaspoon
Method
- Soak the Dal for one hour and drain . Add red chilis ,one teaspoon of salt and asafoetida . Grind to a coarse paste , without adding any water .
- Steam the paste in an idli mould or in a shallow bowl , for 10 to 12 minutes .
- Heat a kadai and add oil . Add mustard and urad dal . Add curry leaves, too .
- When the mustard splutters , add capsicum and salt and stir . Shallow cook in low heat .
- Cook till three fourths done . Meanwhile crumble the cooked dal , to a powdery mass ,
- Spread over the cooked capsicum and mix well . Hot usili is ready to be eaten .
Make sure you do not cook the capsicum too soft . It cooks fast and becomes soggy .
A mixture of chana dal and tuvar dal can be used or chana dal alone too , can be used, too .