Keerai Molakootal (Spinach gravy)

Today, i decided to create a blog for my long cherished passion, cooking. What better way to start than to share a simple, lovely palakkad recipe for " Keerai Molakoottal" . This is a dish made from spinach leaves and tastes yummy with hot rice. It is my favourite and has been passed down three generations. I belong to Palakkad though my formative years were all spent in Bangalore. I try and make many authentic dishes so that my son, Aditya can truly enjoy traditional home food.

here we go...

Ingredients

Spinach leaves - 1 bunch
Moong Dal - Paasi paruppu - a fistful
Grated Coconut - 1/2 a teacup
1 teaspoon jeera
1 green chilly
1 peppercorn
turmeric powder
For the seasoning - 1 tsp mustard seeds, hing, 1 small red chilly(broken)
Coconut Oil

Method

In a pressure cooker/ pan, cook the moong dal with 1.5 cups of water and a pinch of turmeric powder until it is mishy mashy.
In another vessel, cook the spinach leaves with a pinch of salt and a pinch of turmeric powder
Once both the above are done, mix the two together and grind them in a mixie for less than a minute. Keep this separately. (mixture 1)
Now grind the grated coconut, green chilly, black pepper and jeera to a fine paste. (mixture 2)
Add this mixture 2 to mixture 1
Add the desired salt and water to make it to your desired consistency(tastes better if it is a little watery)
Boil for about 3-5 minutes.
Take coconut oil, heat it in a small pan, add mustard seeds, allow this to splutter, now add the broken red chilly and hing . Remove from fire and add it to the final mixture that is ready
Yummy keerai molakootal is ready. Serve with hot rice

The above measure serves 3