I came across an announcement for a “power”less cooking event, i.e. cooking without the use/ help of electric gadgets. The idea struck me as a novel one and so this recipe is just right for the event.
Of course, in the old days, no one used electric gadgets! A lot of traditional cooking was labour intensive yet there are quite a few dishes which could be put together with minimum fuss or effort.
Mulagushyam is one of these and made often in Palakkad Iyer homes (everyone has their own version, of course!). This is a lentil based gravy cooked with vegetables in it and is eaten with rice. This recipe is for Carrot Mulagushyam which is not traditional as carrots are considered an “English” vegetable, that is it was brought to India from outside. Usually cooked with one vegetable or a mix of two vegetables, Mulagushyam is traditonally cooked with vegetables that are native to Kerala like yard long beans, raw bananas, elephant yam, etc.
Carrot Mulakushyam
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup carrot diced
- 1/4 cup green peas
- 3/4 cup tuvar dal , cooked
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper corns coarsely crushed
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- to taste Salt
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 sprig curry leaves
Instructions
- Mash the tuvar dal. Cook the vegetables in 1 1/2 cups of water with turmeric powder and salt till soft. You could pressure cook them too. Add the mashed dal and mix well. Allow to come to boil, then add the crushed pepper and cumin powder. Mix well and turn off the heat. Crush the curry leaves by hand and add. Now add the coconut oil, stir once and cover. Leave the flavours to steep for half an hour.
- Serve with rice, pickles or thogayal (a thick type of chutney) and paapad for a complete meal.
easycrafts says
This is new to me. Thanks for the entry…
Jeena says
What a lovely recipe so whole some and yummy. Great ingredients I can see how this must have tasted so delicious. 🙂
Arundati Rao says
hey aparna, i followed the link from the comment you left on my blog…is this dish similar to the molakootan?? i’m trying my hand at palakkad iyer cooking and would love to pick up a few more….
Mansi Desai says
hey Aparna! thanks for visiting my site:)This dal looks so comforting..just like my mom used to make..it’s not common in our gujju culture, but we liked it so much she learnt it from a neighbor and used to make it for us:) thanks for reviving memories!
Aparna says
Thanks Jeena, Arundati and Manasi.Arundati, I believe what you are referring to is “Molakootal”. Molakootal is made with vegetables, dal(usually moong)and a ground paste of coconut and cumin. this dish always tempered(tadka) with mustard seeds and urad dal.Molagushyam is more easily digested and traditionally made for meals after a period of fasting.Will do a post on this later.
TBC says
I think it’s my first time here. You have a couple of great recipes & they’re vegetarian too… yay!I just checked out ur profile & I understand that you live in Cochin. My parents do too. 🙂
Aparna says
Thanks, tbc.
Anonymous says
Hi Aprana,I just found your blog..Being a palakkad Iyer myslef I love all the recipes you have posted-Anjali