Monday, May 4, 2009

Kale leaf Stir fry (keerai poriyal)

Drumstick leaves ('Murungai Ilai' in Tamil) happen to be a staple green in most of the houses of Indian villages. People in my native place make it in a unique way by adding powdered rice and fennel seeds (Sombu).Though I do not get the drumstick leaves here, I wanted to record that recipe. The recipe needs a firm green like drumstick leaf. So I replaced it with my favorite kale leaf and it turned out very successful and resembled much like our drumstick leaves.
Here goes a simple stir fry using Kale leaves.




To dry roast and powder:

Any uncooked rice - 1 tbsp
Fennel seed (sombu in tamil) - 1/2 tsp

Heat a wok. Dry roast the rice and fennel till the rice becomes white and puffy.
Let it cool. Make a fine powder out of it in a blender.

Other Ingredients:

Drumstick leaves / kale leaf - a bunch (1/4 kg)
Garlic - 10 pods
red chili - 2
Fresh shredded coconut - 2 tbsp
salt - to taste
Shallot - 4
Mustard seed - 1 tsp
Curry leaf - a brig
Sesame oil - 2 tbsp

Method:
1.Take out the leaves leaving the stem.
Wash and clean the leaf very well.
If using kale leaf, chop it in to medium size pieces.
(If drumstick leaves are used, then no need to chop the individual leaves).

2. Heat Oil in a wok. Add the mustard seeds and let them crackle.
Then add the chopped shallot onion , curry leaf, broken red chilly , garlic and fry well till the onion turns soft.

3. Now put the greens and fry till the leaf reduce in volume.
Sprinkle some water and cook covered.

4.As soon as the greens get cooked add salt , powdered rice + fennel, shredded coconut and fry really well till all the water gets evaporated.

Kale leaf stir fry is ready!
(Use the same procedure to make drumstick leaves too).

Serving suggestions:
Serve as side dish with any rice.
The above said quantity will be enough for 2 people.
Cooking time : 15 minutes.

Events:

It took just 15 minutes to get the entire dish done. So I am eager to end this kale leaf stir fry to the 15 minutes cooking event hosted by Mahima of Mahimaa's kitchen's.

Also the kale leaf stir fry goes to the SWC - cooking with greens event hosted by Sowmya of creative saga.

23 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Healthy Stir fry, making powder with rice is completely new to me...looks yum!

Unknown said...

nice recipe with kale leaves..we do get drumstick greens here..will try it sometime...thanks for sending this for SWC.

Suparna said...

Hi Vicky,
love drumstick leaves stir fry, u've given a wonderful alternative :)the close up snap looks so beautiful.
TC

Nandinis food said...

Healthy Keerai Poriyal! Adding powdered rice and fennel is new to me. We are a big fan of drumstick leaves......Nice snap!

Kayal said...

I have never used this powder to the drumstick leaves curry. Will try your version too. I love the drumstick leaves in any form.

Gita Jaishankar said...

Yummy poriyal dear...I use kale only in soups...this recipe is an awesome idea. It looks so delicous and spicy...I must try it soon :)

Finla said...

We used to have this a lot as mom had drumstick tree. I always loved them and this looks so so yummy.

gtyuk said...

it's been years since I ate murunga keerai poriyal , hmmm, miss that very much here :) good idea by replacing it with kale leaves and your preparation sounds authentic :)
my grandmaa used to fry those leaves in ghee and serve crispy yummm!!

Premyscakes said...

healthy dish viki, and green are my fav.

Vrinda said...

I lov drumstick leaves,but its not available here..V hav drumstick tree at home,in Kerala..looks so yummy

Raks said...

Its very healthy one!
But I used to hate this in my childhood and will cry for eating :D

Malar Gandhi said...

Love kale poriyal...this fennel seeds addition in new to me! I must try this.

Anu said...

Keerai poriyal rombo supera eruku!! Simple and tasty :)

saffronapron.blogspot.com said...

I miss drum stick leaves so much. It's always been my fav.

Pooja said...

Healthy side dish! Perfect entry for the events :)

Priyameena said...

Never heard of adding rice to a poriyal..Its tempting me to try..Glad you found alternative for drumstick leaves

Manju said...

thanks for that recipe..ive kale growing in my deck garden this time and im looking for ass many recipes with it as possible!

lissie said...

kale stir fry sounds interesting and tasty...very good recipe!

Unknown said...

thank you viki.. healthy recipe this one is.

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Vicky
Just came here from Akal's to read about this great recipe ..very nice indeed..
Have a nice weekend ahead

momsnetwork said...

Keerai poriyal is the best and i add lots of onion too..
__________________________
Chennai Shopping Offers

Rajesh said...

Where can I get kale leaves

Vikis Kitchen said...

Rajesh, Sorry, I don't know the correct answer. In USA , the kale leaf bunches can be bought in any supermarket or grocery stores. I grew up in a small town in India, so I have never seen kale or any foreign vegetables while in India. May be, it is available now in some super markets. But after googling, I learnt that kale is called parattai keerai in Tamil. Kale tastes closest to murungai keerai (my opinion).You can enquire any supermarkets to buy it. Happy cooking !

Chow chow Paruppu koottu and peel thogayal

Chow chow / Bangalore Kathirikai / Chayote  A dal curry paruppu koottu with chow chow and a spicy chutney using it's peel (chow chow tho...