BASAARU

               

Basaaru is a famous karnataka cuisine which is cooked using leafy vegetables and grams.

Dill leaves is an annual herb in the celery family apiaceae . Dill leaves is a good source of calcium,manganese and iron. Its flavonoids provide anti-inflamatory and antiviral properties that give it a whole host of incredible health benefits.

It is also good for breastfeeding mothers for good milk production. Bassaaru can also be prepared using horsegram, green gram,grams etc. I have used dill leaves and green gram here. Green gram is high in protein,resistant starch and dietary fibre.

Preparing Saaru:

             

Ingredients:

1 onion  if its medium size or 1/2 if its big.

1/2 tsp jeera

Garlic 6 to 7 cloves

curry leaves 5 to 6

1/2 tbsp sambar powder(homemade or shop as per your spice level)

grated coconut 1 tbsp(optional)

Dill leaves 2 bunches

Green Gram 1/2 cup(soaked for 4 to 5 hours) 

Small lemon sized tamarind(soaked in 1/2 to 3/4 cup of boiled water)

Serves - 3 to 4

Ingredients for seasoning:

mustard seeds

2 to 3 crushed garlic cloves

curry leaves

pinch of hing

Method:

1. In a cooker add chopped dill leaves, green gram, salt and 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 2 or 3 whistles until the green gram is cooked.

Note: Green gram should not become mashy.

2. Once cooked, Drain the water and keep it aside(Dont discard the water).

3. In a pan - Add 1 tbsp of oil, jeera, garlic and fry until garlic turns little brown. Next add onions(chop it roughly) and fry until it turns little brown, Add sambar powder and grated coconut and switch of the flame.

4. As I am preparing the below dill leaves and green gram fry, I separated the dill leaves[2 tsp] and green gram for fry and Saaru. Now In a blender add the above(step 3) fried items along with the separated 2 tbsp of cooked dill leaves and green gram and grind it like a paste by adding little amount of drained water. So you can use the remaining drained water in step 5.

5. Add the grinded mixture and add the remaining drained water with the extracted tamarind from the boiled water. Add salt as per taste.

6. Boil it until froth is formed in medium flame.

7. Take a separate pan add 1 tsp oil mustard seeds, once it splutters add curry leaves, 1 dry red chilly, hing and add it to the saaru.

Method for preparing Palya(dill leaves and green gram fry):

Ingredients:

Mustard seeds

3 to 4 crushed Garlic

2 to 3 green chillies(as per taste)

1/2 onion

curry leaves

Procedure:

1. In a pan add oil, mustard seeds, crushed garlic fry until little brown. Add curry leaves and green chillies, Add onions and fry till golden brown.

2. Add boiled dill leaves and green gram add salt as per taste if required and fry in medium flame for 5 mins. The healthy green gram is ready !!

Serve Bassaru with hot rice and enjoy!!!