Mung bean dal/curry/chili/soup

Mung bean dal/curry/chili/soup

Many of the benefits of mung beans or green gram are attributed to its impressive nutritional profile. These beans are rich in antioxidants, phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential minerals, and fiber. They can help manage diabetes and high blood pressure.

Originating in India as early as 1500 BCE, the mung bean has historically been grown in warmer climates, able to thrive in tropical areas with little rainfall, though ideally a rainy season plant. There is also evidence that the green gram spread to China and Southeast Asia as early as 3000 years ago, known there as nga choi.Having been harvested in regions where many European powers had colonial outposts, green gram was likely exported to Europe for consumption.

This dal is special, I tried to add 2 more kind of beans here and the result was amazing. It can be made as dal or gravy sabzi or soup or chili! Without much ado, let's see the recipe. 

Ingredients:

1. Mung dal. Half cup soaked overnight 

2. Green beans chopped 1/4 cup

3. Mungodi or mung vadi 4

4. Tomato 2

5. Curd 1 tbsp.

6. Whole cardamom 1

7. Bay leaf 2

8. Coriander powder 2 tsp.

9. Red chilli powder 2 tsp.

10. Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp.

11. Hing

12. Garam masala powder 1 tsp.

13. Kitchen king masala 1 tsp.

14. Desi ghee or butter for tadka

15. Chopped garlic and kashmiri chilli powder for tadka

16. Whole red chilli 1 and Serrano pepper 

17. 1 onion finely chopped and onion garlic paste 3 tbsp.

Method:

* Heat oil and fry mungodi, keep aside.

* In a pressure cooker, heat ghee or butter and add bay leaf and whole cardamom. 

* Add chopped onion and saute till light brown.

* Add green beans and saute for a couple of minutes. 

* Add onion garlic paste and chopped tomatoes, curd and all the spices and salt.

* When oil comes on the top, add mung beans and mungodi and water and cook on medium flame till 5 whistles.

* Add chopped garlic tadka and aam ka achar and garnish with sliced Serrano pepper. 

I served it with spicy potatoes.