Healthy Mooli Patta ki Dal Recipe: Nutritious Radish Greens with Toor Dal

Radish leaves, known as Mooli Patta, are often discarded, but they are actually a nutritional powerhouse! Abundantly available during the winter season, these greens are loaded with vital nutrients like iron, vitamin C, and essential minerals. 

In this comforting recipe, we combine chopped radish greens with creamy, protein-rich yellow split peas (Toovar Dal) and finish it with a simple, aromatic temper of mild spices.

Ingredients

For Tempering (Tadka)

• 3 tsp Cooking oil
• ½ tsp Cumin seeds (Jeera)
• ½ tsp Asafoetida (Hing/Perungayam)
• 3–4 Dry red chilies, broken
• 3–4 Fresh curry leaves
• 4 tsp Onions, finely chopped

Main Curry Ingredients

• ½ cup Radish leaves (Mooli Patta), thoroughly washed and finely chopped
• ½ cup Pigeon peas (Toovar Dal / Arhar Dal), boiled until soft and mashed slightly
• Salt, to taste

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Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Crackle the Spices

1. Heat 3 teaspoons of cooking oil in a pan or kadhai over medium heat.
2. Add the cumin seeds and let them splutter.
3. Stir in the asafoetida, broken dry red chilies, and fresh curry leaves. Fry for a few seconds until aromatic.

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

1. Add the finely chopped onions to the pan.
2. Sauté on medium flame until the onions turn soft and transparent.

Step 3: Cook the Radish Greens

1. Throw in the finely chopped radish leaves and stir well to coat them with the tempered oil.
2. Lower the flame to a simmer, cover the pan, and cook for about 10 minutes until the leaves are wilted and partially done.

Step 4: Simmer with the Dal

1. Pour the boiled toovar dal into the pan with the cooked greens.
2. Season with salt to taste and add a splash of water if you prefer a thinner gravy consistency.
3. Give it a good stir, cover the pot, and let it simmer together for 3–5 minutes so the flavors meld beautifully.

Serving Suggestion

Serve this nourishing, steaming hot Mooli Patta ki Dal alongside warm, ghee-smeared rotis or over a bed of fluffy steamed rice with a side of pickle.