Sunday, June 17, 2007

MOOGACHI USAL - Usal Made From Whole Moong

anticlockwise: chapati, moogachi usal, batata bhaji, dhokla
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There are so many ways to consume whole dals like Moong, Matki, Chawli/Lobia, Kala Chana, Val, Vatana and so on. One of them is the Maharashtrian way of making a dryish curry utilising these whole dals, called Usal. Usal can be made from a single dal or as a mix of a few dals.
One of the important ingredients in making Usal is the 'Goda Masala'. This Maharashtrian blend of spices lends a distinct taste and aroma to the usal, which is hard to replicate with any other masala. Each house has it's own special touch to make Usal, which makes such a delightful protein addition to any meal :)
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Here is how I made Moong Usal/Moogachi Usal.
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1 cup whole Moong
(I soak the Moong for a couple of hours, but if in a hurry it can be cooked without soaking as well)
1 onion chopped fine
2 cloves garlic chopped fine
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 heaped tsp Goda Masala
salt as per taste
1 tsp tamarind paste OR 1 tbsp lime/lemon juice
1 tbsp jaggery
Tadka/Phodni: 1 tbsp oil, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, hing, curry leaves
Garnish: 2tbsp chopped coriander leaves, 1 tbsp grated coconut
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1. Cook whole moong till done. I pressure cooked it for 3 whistles with 1/2 cup water. Takes longer to cook in a sauce pan, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Heat oil. Add tadka ingredients, let splutter.
3. Add onion and fry till translucent.
4. Add garlic and saute a minute. Add all masala powders, jaggery and tamarind/lime juice. Add 1/2 cup water and boil for a few minutes.
5. Add boiled moong and mix well, cover and cook about 5 minutes.
6. Garnish with coriander leaves & coconut.
7. Serve with roti or rice.
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Goda Masala is available at most desi grocery stores, Kepra & Bedekar being some popular brands.
Recipe adapted from here.
This is my contribution to Nupur's A-Z Of Vegetables.
This is also my contribution for RCI-Maharashtra.
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44 comments:

Viji said...

A nice entry and the plate looks divine. Love to taste the Dhokla. Viji

Anonymous said...

Hi Richa, what a beautiful meal you've set out there! I'd like to invite myself over :)

I saw that same recipe on mumbai masala. I almost tried it, but no goda masala and I was too tired to make it today. Now I see your version, I'll have to get with the program so I can try. Yum! :)

Coffee said...

The gujju version is almost the same but minus the goda masala. :) The meal looks very inviting and like Linda, I am also coming over. ;)

BTW I made your butternut squash side dish today for lunch and it was awesome!!! :) I probably added a bit more of water to the pressure cooker and hence it bacame more of a curry like than a dry side dish. But it was really awesome!! :) Thanks a lot. :)

Vini K said...

Hi Richa,usal looks great.Can I also use whole urad in this one?that dhokla is tempting too.

archana said...

Richa, tat, madhley sagley padarth chaan dista ahet. Me pun usal ashich karte.
Ata mala vatayla lagla, ahey ki tu pakki maharashtrian ahes ,gujju nahi barobar na / ;)
Me kal tuzya recipe varun ragda patties kela . Mast zhale hote sagle,andkhin ek batch freeze kela. Tumchya kadoon shikle ;) idea chaan ahey. Tya mule ata maza dola ata next batch var already ahey :))

J said...

Great entry Richa! I'm going to make misal from your recipe :)

TNL said...

Thali ketli saras lagey che! Hun paan vau chu jamva, badhani saathe. :)

trupti

Richa said...

thanks viji! glad you liked the spread, you are most welcome anytime for dhokla as well as other goodies!

thanks linda! you are most welcome to join me for the meal, vadas won't hurt either ;) heh!heh!
Yes, you need to go get urself some goda masala, it has that un-mistakable aroma & taste!
enjoy!

thanks coffee!! u r most welcome dear :)
great to know u liked my kaddu recipe :) if u add more water just let it boil a bit to let it evaporate! You can mash it a bit if u like the mushy texture. it is so quick to make, once the chopping is done ;) enjoy sweetie!

Richa said...

thanks vini, glad you liked it dear! I've not tried with whole urad, i think whole urad is more suited for dal makhani sort of preparations! But you can try with other whole dals like matki, lobia, val etc. tastes awesome with sprouted matki :) do try and let me know, enjoy....

thanks archana! taat avadla tula :) changley zhaley hotey padartha, taat bharlela aslay tar khayla maja yetey :) pan roj karu shakat nahi, heh!heh!
arrey wah, tu ragda patties try kelas, amchya ethey pan khup fav ahey :) keep guessing....

thanks jyothsna! do try it and lemme' know.
enjoy...

thanks trupti! you are most welcome anytime sweetie! kyare aavey che? thali ready raakhis :)
enjoy..

Nupur said...

What a delicious spread! I never make usal with moong dal...why ever not? I'll be making this in a day or two!

Aruna said...

Richa, The usal seems to be very yummy!!! I love moong dishes. Ur spread looks goood :)

TheCooker said...

Everything looks fab. I'll join the bandwagon and invite myself to your place!
Moong usal is my son's favourite. I always have a batch in the freezer.

Suganya said...

Love the spread. Its perfect. Protein from the usal, carb from the roti, texture ;) from the dhokla

Anonymous said...

wow...what a fantastic meal you have there..can I join in...~smile~...thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

I love this moong usal. Have tasted a couple of times in Belgaum but never prepared it at home. I need to get that Goda masala from somewhere(make it at home may be). I love the taste of it :). A great entry for RCI.

Roopa said...

Richa the meal looks very inviting. yumm. GReat entry for RCI. i do make usal of moong sprouts than whole moong. i love either ways!

Kajal said...

Kem Chhe Richa?
Te to bahu saaras plate banvi chhe hu jamava avu chhu…nice entry for both events.
I never hear about Goda masala...but nice plate...your dhokla looks yummy...Good job.:)

Cynthia said...

This is a delicious spread Richa. Hope you and the family had a good day.

Arts said...

A question?
Are u a Maharashtrian or a gujju?? :) U are good at both cuisines!

Arts said...

Btw, Usal looks yum.. i make it the smae way..
And ur nylon dhokla is a must must must try soon for me!

indosungod said...

Richa that is one healthy looking plate of delicious food. Would love to make the Usal, I don't generally add jaggery to dal but it should give it a lovely taste.

FH said...

I love Moong,usually make Usal with Tomato Smabhar.Tastes so great together.I love that plate,I want it now!;D

Sia said...

richa dearie, u should be locked up in a cell for torturing me with such a delicious thali... i am serious:)

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

Good you reminded me of Moong Dal Usal. Will make it sometime this week. I love it!!! And your pic looks great!

sunita said...

That's one delicious spread you've got there...I had no idea about'usal'...know better now...

Richa said...

thanks nupur! yup moong usal is one of the easiest to make 'coz it can be done without prior preparation, no soaking reqd if in a hurry :) do lemme' know how it turns out!

thanks aruna! glad you liked the spread, i always look forward to ur lovely weekend thali as well :)

thank tc! yup moong usal is one of my fav as well, so quick to make. hmm freezing, never tried that though, now u r giving me ideas....

thanks suganya! texture from dhokla... ;)
yup sure is a balanced meal, isn't it :) and yes some more protein from those roti as well heh!heh!

thanks dilip! you are most welcome to savor the thali...

Richa said...

thanks shilpa! do try it and lemme' know how it turned out in ur kitchen :) check ur local desi grocery, they might have the goda masala! enjoy...

thanks roopa! yes it tastes yum with sprouts as well if one has planned it, else this is a quick one. enjoy dear...

thanks kajal! kyare aavey che, thali ready raakhis :) goda masala maharashtrian garam masalo che, see if u can get it somewhere.
enjoy...

thanks cynthia! yes we did enjoy it a lot, also did some fun activities over the wknd! enjoy...


thanks arti! heh!heh! keep guessing :) dhokla try kar ani mala sang tuzhaya kitchen madhye kasa zhala? usal mala pharach avadtey, ani karayla kiti sopi ahey. enjoy sweetie :)

Richa said...

thanks isg! yup, do try this version sometime, change is always welcome. the mix of tamarind and jaggery makes one heck of a dish, me thinks :) as i said in my post, the variations to cook these dals is just endless...

thanks asha! you are most welcome dear, come on over, lets have lunch :) that sounds like a good combo that u mentioned. enjoy.

thanks sia! how about getting locked in ur yummy dishes producing kitchen heh!heh! that way will have access to everything being cooked there :) do try this dear...

thanks ramya! glad to learn i reminded u of this tasty dish. enjoy...


thanks sunita! yup, usal is very popular with maharashtrians and can be made with whole dals as well as sprouts. tastes yum with all that nutrition, can't beat that !! do try it sometime dear :) enjoy...

Sharmi said...

great looking thali. lovely combination of food. I am still working on mine.

musical said...

Richa, sweetie, now i love usal: moong, matki, kulith or chavli, love 'em all. Its simple and no fuss recipe that one can enjoy with anything, even as a stuffing between bread toast to make a sumptuous sandwich :). aapki thali ne man moh liya :)). btw, do try kulith usal in bread with kulith cha saar. its delish desi style soup and sandwich combo :).

hugs,
musical.

swapna susarla said...

nice curry richa.I have seen this recipe in Asha's blog and tried out.i liked it very much.

Richa said...

thanks sharmi, do try it sometime.

thanks musical! yup, love all kinds of usal and it is so quick to make, that goda masala really makes the dish so yummy :) about kulith, pata nai atthey mildi haegi ki nai, thuadde area ch mildi e ? enjoy..

thanks swapna, glad you liked the recipe. do try when u get a chance. enjoy

Sig said...

Nice spread Richa... Nice entry for RCI... I haven't decided what to make, missed last month's RCI too... :(
Hope u had a great weekend!

Bharathy said...

What a feast!Richa...he he me with the simplest of recipes...Lovely..food on steel plate looks homely as well..
Love that clourful pic of squash as well...

Suganya said...

O O this is very nice dish...Love it...Nice picture...Mouthwatering one...

Richa said...

thanks sig! yup it was a tasty meal :) wknd was lots of fun, thanks!

thanks bharathy! yes it was a nice & homely meal! do try sometime.

thanks sukanya! glad u liked it :) do try it, quick & tasty!

deena said...

hey Richa..what a platter..slurrpp..!!

Sia said...

oh yes!!! thats a gr8 idea:) i will lock u in my kitchen and will open only when u finish cooking yummy dishes for me;)

Bong Mom said...

Good that you said "Goda masala" is available at stores. I thought it was a masala you had to make through generations to get right.
Your Maharashtrian thali looks very nice

Anonymous said...

Love your dhokla, wonderful plate:)
very nice entry.

DEEPA said...

Very nice plate ....Nice pic too ....

Kumudha said...

Wow! wonderful recipes...

I'm sure I will try many recipes from this site.

Richa said...

thanks deena! u r most welcome dear!

hey sia, i think we both need to get into that kitchen of urs and cook some exotic dishes, it's always fun to cook with friends, what say heh!heh!

thanks sandeepa! glad u liked the thali.

thanks jff!

thanks deepa!

thanks kumudha and welcome to my blog! glad u enjoyed ur visit here, see ya around :)

Latha said...

Yummy looking usal and thali Richa! I am so hungry now...