Paruppu Usili: Tasty Lentil Based Tamil Dish

By Niveditha Kalyanaraman

October 14th, 2023

Image Credit: Unsplash

Paruppu Usilli is a popular Tamil dish. It is made by frying toor dal and bengal gram dal with red chilies and beans, seasoning it with asafoetida, curry leaves, and mustard seeds. During a meal, it is usually served with rice and mor kuzhambu. Here's the recipe for Paruppu Usili.

Ingredients

Beans - 2 cups + 1/2 cup chopped Toor Dal - 1/4 cup Chana Dal - 1/4 cup Dried red chillies, adjust according to your spice level Hing - a generous pinch Turmeric powder, as required Salt, as needed Tempering: Coconut oil, as required Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp Urad Dal - 1/2 Tbsp Chana Dal -1 Tbsp Curry leaves, as required

Step 1

Wash and soak toor dal, chana dal, red chilli with enough hot water for at least 1 hour. Wash and cook the Beans and keep them aside. Drain water from the soaked dal and grind them along with red chillies, little water, salt to a coarse mixture.

Image Credit: Spill The Spices

Step 2

Boil water in idli pan, grease the Idli plate with coconut oil. Spread the coarse mixture on the plate and steam it for 7-10 minutes (like steaming idlis) and turn off the stove. Transfer the steamed dal to a plate, and once they come to room temperature, crumble them with your hands or pulse it in the mixie and set aside.

Image Credit: Kanamma Cooks

Step 3

Add oil to the pan, and once the oil is hot, add the tempering ingredients and let them sputter. Saute for 3 minutes or until they are roasted and add in the cooked beans and mix well. Add salt if required.

Image Credit: Masala Chilli

Step 4

Add in the crumbled dal and cook for 5 mins until everything combines well. Finally, add asafoetida, give a good mix and turn off the stove. Your Paruppu Usili is ready!

Image Credit Saffron Trail