Green gram (Cherupayar) curry!

For some reason, healthy food and me have never gone hand in hand, lolz! Thanks to A, who insists on having at least one veggie daily, I have begun to change from my "spoiled brat" ways, hee hee..However, not all veggies are bad, you know. For instance, this green gram curry is super healthy and super tasty.

Green gram has many benefits. It's perfect for hair loss and attaining beautiful hair. All you need to do is have sprouted green gram daily..which I guess is a bit of a chore, especially for people like me. But green gram is also the perfect food for weight loss and for people with cholesterol issues. So, keeping all that in mind, I decided to make my first ever green gram curry, and it tasted pretty good actually, if I do say so myself. This is something that can be cooked in a jiffy, coz it requires hardly any ingredients, and if you have a pressure cooker, even better! So, on to the recipe..

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4-5)

• 1 cup green gram (soaked overnight or at least 5-6 hours before)
• 1 1/2 cups hot water (I use boiled water from the kettle)
• 1 medium sized onion, sliced thinly
• 1 tomato, chopped into cubes
• 4 green chillies, chopped finely
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chilly powder
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 2 dried red chillies (optional)
• Curry leaves- plenty!
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon oil (You can use coconut oil for the traditional taste, refined oil or extra virgin oil as a healthier option)

METHOD

• Cook the green gram with the water in a pressure cooker for 5 whistles on a medium heat. If using the normal saucepan, this would take a minimum of 1 hour.
• Once the green gram is cooked, in a separate saucepan, heat the oil and splutter the mustard seeds followed by the dried red chillies and a few curry leaves. Reserve the remaining curry leaves for the end. 
• Now add the onions, green chillies and salt. Salt is added to cook the onions faster. Cook the onions and chillies till they lose the raw smell and turn a slight shade of brown.
• Now add the turmeric and chilly powders and add some of the green gram stock left behind in the pressure cooker. If there is no water left, add a few tablespoons of hot water from the kettle. 
• Add the tomatoes and cook till they get mashed.
• Finally add the green gram along with it's stock. If you want more gravy add an extra 2 cups of hot water.
• Check salt levels and cook for another 5 minutes or till the green gram curry gets it's required consistency.
• Garnish with the remaining curry leaves.

This was how the final product looked like...

And another one..

Do let me know your feedback. so till next time, take care darlins and God bless!