Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 30 min
Serves: 4

Ingredients: (measuring cup used = 240ml)

1. 1 bunch drumstick leaves (1 cup of leaves)
2. 1/2 cup toor dal
3. 1 tsp mustard seeds
4. 1 tsp cumin seeds
5. 1 red chilli
6. 1 - 2 green chilies (adjust as per spice level)
7. Few curry leaves
8. 1 tsp chopped garlic
9. 1 tsp chopped ginger
10. 1 onion
11. 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
12. Big pinch of asafoetida
13. 1 large tomato
14. Salt as per your taste
15. 1 tbsp oil

Instructions for making nugge soppu dal:

1. Pick, rinse and chop the nugge soppu or drumstick leaves.
2. Soak dal for 1 hour. Please note soaking dal is optional, you can soak it to reduce the cooking time.
3. Heat oil in a cooker. Add in mustard seeds, cumin seeds and red chilli. Wait until mustard seeds splutter.
4. Next add in chopped curry leaves, slit green chillies, finely chopped garlic and ginger. Give it a quick mix.
5. Next add chopped onions, turmeric powder and asafoetida. Saute it until the onions are translucent.
6. Add in chopped tomatoes. Fry until tomatoes are soft.
7. Add in chopped drumstick leaves and fry them for a while.
8. Add in soaked toor dal.
9. Add in water as required. I have added 1.5 cups of water, that is 3 times the dal.
10. Close the lid and cook until dals are soft. I had to make just 2 whistles as the dals were soaked.
11. Once the pressure subsidies add salt as per taste.
12. Mash it it well using a masher or a spatula.
13. Add in required water and bring it to boil. Serve it with jowar roti or chapathi or rice along with hot ghee.
14. Serve it with roti or chapati or rice along with hot ghee.

Dear reader, We have a Kannada version of this recipe. Click here to read this recipe in Kannada.