Monday, March 4, 2013

Broccoli usili (dal fry)

Usili is a side dish made with dal, which can be compared to a dry form of dal fry.  It is one of the traditional foods that can be seen in many households of Tamilnadu. Any fibrous vegetable like carrot, beans, cabbage can be turned into usili. It is a great recipe to enrich the simple vegetables with proteins.
Many years ago when I first saw this broccoli in a supermarket in Missouri, I thought it as a green cauliflower:)  and cooked it just like that. But then only I found the smell and taste more dominant and it is certainly a different veggie, which is in need of more care:) Then I would add it in stir fries, pastas or soups only. Then tried making usili with that and it tasted very yummy. In this recipe I have added carrot also, but tastes good alone also.
Carrot broccoli usili (dal fry). This recipe makes me love broccoli more:)
Broccoli usili

Ingredients:
Broccoli - 1 lb
carrot - 1 (optional)
oil - 1 tbsp
mustard - 1 tsp
curry leaf - 1 sprig

To grind:
Thoor dhal (red gram) - 1 cup
dry red chilly - 3
cumin - 1 tsp
sea salt - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
hing - 1/8 tsp

Method:
Soak dal for 1 hour and grind without water along with the other items to a fine paste.
Scoop the dal into idly plates and steam cook for 10 minutes.
Let it get cool completely.
Put it in the mixie again and pulse gently for a few times, so that the cooked dal looks loose.
In the mean time wash the broccoli and peel the carrot. cut them into small pieces.
Heat oil in a wok and let mustard splutter.
Then add the curry leaves, chopped broccoli, carrot and stir fry it.
Cook covered along with little salt for 5 minutes.
Then add the prepared dal mixture and stir fry it in high flame for few minutes.
Switch off.
Broccoli usili is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Serve with kara kulambu + rice or rasam + rice.
Tastes good with chapati also.
I like it as snack too:)

11 comments:

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Usli looks simply delicious and inviting. Excellent presentation.
Deepa

Unknown said...

Looks so healthy and delicious.

great-secret-of-life said...

yummy and healthy using broccoli in usli is new to me

Unknown said...

Very nutritious and yummy fry.

My World My Home said...

Looks healthy & yummy...:-)

Priya Suresh said...

Yea, even i can have this broccoli usili as snack,love kuzhambu+usili+rice combo.

Subhie Arun said...

healthy one n ..yummy too!my fav combo too!

Unknown said...

broccoli and dal sounds like a nice combo..
"Healthy Recipe Substitution" HRS EVENT Dec 20th to Mar 20th
SYF&HWS - Cook With SPICES" Series
South Indian Cooking

Suja Manoj said...

Tempting dish,nice combo.

Hari Chandana P said...

Healthy and delicious recipe.. looks too good !!

divya said...

Absolutely fabulous n healthy fry. Yummy!

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...