Carrot Patoli (Carrot Paruppu Usili)

Today's Carrot dish for BM# 23 is a healthy curry that incorporates veggie and lentils, one of my favorite combination. Being a vegetarian, protein intake is something that I'm watchful about and when a dish incorporates a healthy veggie and a protein, I'm super happy.

Paruppu usili or Patoli (in telugu) is a dry-ish curry that can be made with different vegetable like green beans, cabbage, cluster beans etc. When I saw PJ post her carrot paruppu usili, it looked awesome and I decided to try it today. My mom made this dish and here's how she made it:

Ingredients:

Carrots - 4, medium chopped

Cumin seeds - 1tsp

Mustard seeds - 1tsp

Dry red chili - 2
Asafoetida - pinch

Curry leaves - 8

Salt - to taste

Lentil Masala paste:

Chana dal - ½cup
Green chilies - 4
Cumin seeds - 2tsp
Coriander seeds - 2tbsp
Ginger - 1" piece
Coconut - 2tbsp, either fresh or dry

Method:

• Soak chana dal for 1 hour. Grind along with all the other ingredients listed under lentil masala paste into a coarse mixture adding very little water.
• Microwave or boil chopped carrot until cooked thoroughly. Keep aside.
• Heat 2tbsp oil in a saute pan, add cumin and mustard seeds, once the seeds start to splutter add dry red chili, curry leaves and asafoetida.
• Next add the ground paste and cook until the mixture dries up. Constant stirring is required at this stage.
• Finally add the cooked carrot and salt. Mix well and cook for another 5 minutes on low flame.
• Serve hot with steamed rice and dal.

Lets check out what my fellow marathoners have cooked today for BM# 23.