Kongunadu Dhal

“Paruppu” (dhal) is the first dish served in South Indian Weddings and also the first solid food given to kids. Normally, when we cook Thuvar dhal for Sambar, we will take little from that and add a pinch of salt and serve as “Dhal” for Rice. I saw a different Kongunadu preparation of the dhal in a TV Show, where the Chef added a teaspoon of castor oil in the dhal and cooked in open vessel. Adding castor oil remove gas from the dhal. However, most of us do not keep caster oil and cooking in the open vessel take long time, I just modified the recipe and added a teaspoon of gingelly oil and pressure cooked it.

Serve this dhal with hot plain rice mixed with a teaspoon of ghee and with fried appalam/papadam. Green Chilli Pachadi also goes well with this Dhal Rice.

Kongunadu Dhal

0.0 from 0 votes
Recipe by S Kamala
Course: GraviesCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes

Kongunadu dhal is prepared like regular dhal with the addition of a teaspoon of castor oil in the dhal and cooked in open vessel

Ingredients

  • Thuvar Dhal – 1 cup

  • Oil – 1 teaspoon

  • Turmeric Powder – 1/4 teaspoon

  • For seasoning:
  • Coconut Oil – 2 teaspoon

  • Mustard – 1/2 teaspoon

  • Urad dhal – 1 teaspoon

  • Jeeragam (Cumin) – 1 teaspoon

  • Onion chopped – 2 tablespoons

  • Garlic flakes – 5 (small size)

  • Curry Leaves – few

  • Ghee – 4 teaspoons

  • Salt – 1/2 teaspoon or as per taste

Directions

  • Wash thuvar dhal and put it in a pressure cooker. Add a teaspoon of oil, turmeric powder and 3 cups of water and pressure cook it for 3 whistles. Do not overcook the dhal, just cook it till soft.
  • In a kadai add the coconut oil. When it is hot add mustard.
  • When it pops up, add urad dhal, jeeragam (cumin) and fry till urad dhal become light brown.
  • Add chopped onion, curry leaves and garlic flakes (just crush it and add). Fry for few seconds.
  • Now add the cooked dhal along with salt. Stir well and allow to boil.

Notes

  • Serve with hot plain rice mixed with a teaspoon of ghee and have it with fried appalam/papadam.
  • Green Chilli Pachadi also goes well with this Dhal Rice.

12 Comments

  1. hemalatha pandi

    super dish. karam ellai, quickly digesttion, suprb, please send to summer dishes.

    • Hi Hemalatha Pandi,

      Thank you for your kind comments. I have already posted some less spicy Kootu varieties. You can check it in the “Kootu” section in my site. I will post more recipes shortly.

  2. I hav tried coriander rice. It came very well. Thanks. It is easy and healthy for my kids for lunch.

  3. Thank you for this wonderful recipe. I love this so much. Tried it and it is a regular item in my kitchen.

  4. hi kamala,
    shall i add perunkaya podi with this..??
    because its dhal na…………..

    • Hi Arthi,

      In this recipe, I followed the Chef’s instructions to get authentic Kongunadu dhal. If you want you can add little perunkaya podi. However, we are adding garlic, it is not necessary to again add perunkayam.

  5. Vanitha Sundaramurthy

    Kamala, your recipes are awesome and yummy. Thank you.

  6. Its gud and easy

  7. Hi kamala… Shall I add pasi apayir instead of thuvar dal

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