My greens repertoire has always been fresh spinach and when I go to the Indian store, Amaranth and Methi. I thank serendipity for making me pick up this bunch a few weeks ago and now there is no looking back. Red Chard is a staple in our house now and I am thinking of different ways to get more of it into our diet. A powerhouse of nutrients; packed with vitamins A, K, C, minerals and proteins and I must say, mighty tasty too!
I took the safe approach with the first dish I made. A simple dal. It was pretty much a no-brainer because we Andhras are known to make dals (Pappus) out of every conceivable green….including tender tamarind leaves. If we see an edible green, by golly we will ‘pappu’ it!
I don’t know about you but my absolute favorite way to eat any dal is with rice (confession time – white rice), a little bit of ghee, pickle and paapad.
Printable Recipe1 large bunch Red Chard
1 cup tuvar dal
1/2 tsp turmeric
2-3 tsp of tamarind pulp or lemon juice
1 tbsp oil
saltSeasoning:
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
10 methi seeds
a large pinch of Hing
1 dried red chili
1 tbsp oilWash the tuvar dal and cook in the pressure cooker ( 3 whistles are enough)
Wash the Red Chard and trim the bottom 1-2 inches to remove the fibrous part. Chop the leaves and also the stem.
Heat oil in a pan large enough to hold the finished dal and add the chopped leaves and stem. Fry until the leaves wilt and the stem turns soft.
Add the dal, turmeric and tamarind juice and bring to a boil. You can add as much water needed to get the consistency you like.
Heat oil for the seasoning and add the methi seeds. When they start to turn brown, add the mustard seeds, cumin and hing. Add the red chilly too and when the mustard start to pop, add the tadka to the dal.
Let it boil for a few minutes and check the salt.
Ruchita Joshi
October 21, 2016 at 9:07 pmI intended to look for a sambhar recipe on your blog and ended up browsing all 25 pages,making mental notes on planning my menu (I'm definitely trying the paneer tikka next week). Your story on how you ignored this amazing green kinda echoes with my thoughts. But not anymore,after reading this recipe I'm definitely going to buy red chard and try this.
Thanks for sharing & great blog again 🙂
Ruchita Joshi
October 21, 2016 at 9:07 pmI intended to look for a sambhar recipe on your blog and ended up browsing all 25 pages,making mental notes on planning my menu (I'm definitely trying the paneer tikka next week). Your story on how you ignored this amazing green kinda echoes with my thoughts. But not anymore,after reading this recipe I'm definitely going to buy red chard and try this.
Thanks for sharing & great blog again 🙂
Bina
October 21, 2016 at 9:08 pmLol…..thanks so much, Ruchita 🙂 If nothing else, it will make a good change from the regular spinach etc! Thanks again.
Bina
October 21, 2016 at 9:08 pmLol…..thanks so much, Ruchita 🙂 If nothing else, it will make a good change from the regular spinach etc! Thanks again.
Ruchita Joshi
November 4, 2016 at 3:04 amHi Bina,
I finally made this red chard dal,it was delicious,wholesome and one word that I described when I had the first spoon was 'Hearty".This is definitely a keeper.
Thanks again!
Ruchita Joshi
November 4, 2016 at 3:04 amHi Bina,
I finally made this red chard dal,it was delicious,wholesome and one word that I described when I had the first spoon was 'Hearty".This is definitely a keeper.
Thanks again!
Bina
November 4, 2016 at 3:05 amOh thanks so much for letting me know, Ruchita! Glad you liked it 🙂
Bina
November 4, 2016 at 3:05 amOh thanks so much for letting me know, Ruchita! Glad you liked it 🙂
Ranjana
December 6, 2016 at 3:03 amHi Bina
I finally tried this recipe. Very simple to make and very clean flavors. Love ur blog and instagram feed.
I am completely on board with you on the daal and "white" rice with ghee 😉
Once again thanks for sharing.
Ranjana
December 6, 2016 at 3:03 amHi Bina
I finally tried this recipe. Very simple to make and very clean flavors. Love ur blog and instagram feed.
I am completely on board with you on the daal and "white" rice with ghee 😉
Once again thanks for sharing.
Bina
December 6, 2016 at 3:05 amThanks for trying the recipe, Ranjana and so glad you liked it 🙂
I know!! I can resist chocolates and cakes but not that- lol!
Bina
December 6, 2016 at 3:05 amThanks for trying the recipe, Ranjana and so glad you liked it 🙂
I know!! I can resist chocolates and cakes but not that- lol!