SIRUKEERAI PARUPPU KOOTU

Sirukeerai is known by the scientic name Amaranthus Poligonoides by the scientists. Greens are playing an important role in the kongu traditional side dishes to the main dish such as hot rice, Ragi kali, kambu satham and any small millets from the ancient times. It is considered as healthy and easily digestible and medicinal food for all the ages of the people.

Sirukeerai is wonderful greens enriched with rich iron component. It increases memory power. It has abundant calcium. It cures skin diseases like scabies, eczema and treats with kidney related properties.
Kongu folks have an immense knowledge about the uses of the greens. They know how to prepare the side dishes using the greens and lentils and enhance the taste. They consume and benefit from the greens in any form of cooking such as kuzhambu, kootu, porial, gravy or thuvayal etc.

When you make this Sirukeerai with toor dal or mysore dal, it will give you an excellent taste with hot rice and a spoon of ghee. Children will like to have more.

Now we move to the procedure of sirukeerai dal kootu..

Ingredients:

Sirukeerai one bundle
Toor dal or Mysore dal 100 gms
Cumin seeds one spoon
Salt required
Tomato medium size one
Green chillies three
Sesame oil One tablespoon
Mustard seeds one spoon
Shallots peeled and chopped half cup
Curry leaves one sprig

Procedure:

Pressure cook the dal with three whistles.
Clean the greens and wash it to remove the dust and soils.
Pluck the leaves and tender leaves with the top.
Chop them with scissor.
Heat the wok with sesame oil over a medium flame.
Add the mustard seeds to splutter.
Then add shallots, green chillies, and curry leaves and saute them until the shallots turn translucent.
Add turmeric with them.
Transfer the tomato dices and saute again.
Transfer the greens chops into the wok and saute over the medium flame until the green leaves shrink and half cooked.
Add cooked dal, salt and. Cumin seeds.
Adjust the consistency with required water.
Allow to boil for few minutes.
Check the salt.
Switch off the flame.
Maah the greens and dal using a spatula.

Sirukeerai Dal Kootu is now ready to have with hot steamed rice and a. Spoon of ghee.