Drumstick Leaf Adai/Murungai Ilai Adai

               Drumstick leaves, one of the most common varieties of greens used in Tamil Nadu mainly because every household will have a drumstick tree in their back yard and the nutritional value is abundant. I would call this a "Wonder Tree" as all parts of the drumstick tree is used in cooking and herbal medicine for their therapeutic and medicinal properties. 

The leaves, flower, pods are: 
1.Extremely rich in Vitamin A and iron: good for eyesight
2.Wonderful source of iron and potassium for expecting mothers and malnourished children.
3.Very good source of calcium which stimulates milk production in lactating mother.
4.Natural prevention of bronchitis and asthma.
5.Fresh leaf extract along with lime juice is a prefect cure for pimples and blackheads.

Drumstick leaves/Murungai Ilai: 2 handfuls.
Idli Rice [puzhungal arisi]: 1 cup.
Raw rice [pacharisi]: 1/2 cup.
Toor dhal: 1/2 cup.
Channa dhal/ Kadalai paruppu: 1/2 cup.
Urad dhal: 1/2 cup.
Onion [large]:1.
Garlic pods [sliced]: 5-6.

 Red chillies: 4.
Fennel seeds: 1 tsp.
Cumin seeds: 1 tsp.
Asafoetida powder: 1/2 tsp.
Curry leaves: 1 sprig.
Coriander leaves [chopped]: 2-3 tbsp.
Salt: to taste.
Oil: as required to make the adai.

This is what I call "Leaning Tower of Drumstick Adai"

1.Wash the 2 types of rice and the 3 types of dhal and soak everything together for 3 hrs.
2.Remove the leaves from the stalks and wash them thoroughly.
3.Grind the soaked rice + dhal along with the garlic, fennel, cumin, red chillies and half the drumstick leaves. Remove and keep aside.
4.Meanwhile chop onions and saute together with the curry leaves in 1 tsp of oil.
5.Add the sauted onions, rest of the drumstick leaves [chopped], salt, asafoetida and coriander leaves to the batter and mix well.

Adai and Idli Podi

 6.Heat a flat skillet [dosai tawa] on medium flame. Oil the surface.
7.Pour a ladle full of the batter and spread it around to form a slightly thick pancake. Drizzle oil on the sides.
8.When cooked, flip it and cook the other side for 30 secs.
  
      Serve hot with avial/tomato chutney/podi and oil.

And now the tower has fallen......

Note: The batter should not be very smooth and the consistency should be like idli batter [not too thick nor runny]. It will have a slight ting of green colour because of the drumstick leaves. The taste is just as yummy as normal dhal adai but with the subtle taste of the drumstick leaves.
      If you want you can grind all the drumstick leaves with the batter.....great way to disguise greens when feeding kids....they can't pick out what they can't see.

"treesforlife"  is a NGO working towards betterment of people, enpowering them to solve their own problems by providing solutions for proverty and malnutrition. One their projects is "Moringa Tree" which speaks volumes about this "Wonder Tree"... Please do check it out when you have time.....

Entry for the event "Only Greens" by Pari , guest hosted by Sara of  simplysara07.blogspot.com

For more info about drumstick leaves go here and here

Enjoy....

Scribbled by Reva.