Cucumber/Keera Daal(Keera Dosakaya Pappu)

This is yet another simple daal to prepare.Well I get cucumbers to enjoy them as raw food but sometimes it ends up cooked.This comes to my rescue when I am running out of regular vegetables that I use in the daal.I make daal as well as chutney and curry with the cucumber.As the cucumber has a bland taste it adapts the taste of all the seasonings you add to the daal and becomes flavorful.Sometimes I combine cucumber-tomato to make the daal.You can find that recipe here.

Let's see how this cucumber daal is made..........

Main Ingredients :

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Firm Cucumber/Keera.....................1(large)

Toor Daal........................................1cup
Green Chilly.....................................4
Water..............................................3cups

Seasoning Ingredients :
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Ghee/Oil........................................2tsp
Mustard Seeds..............................1tsp
Cumin Seeds.................................1tsp
Asafoetida.....................................1/8tsp
Turmeric.......................................1/4tsp
Curry Leaves................................few
Tamarind Paste.............................2tsp(optional)
Salt..............................................to taste

Preparation :
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Rinse the daal and cucumber.Peel the cucumber and check the cucumber for bitterness as cucumber might be bitter sometimes.If bitter do not cook with it.If cucumber is not bitter cut it into pieces and place it in the vessel along with daal and water.Also add slit chillies,turmeric,tamarind(if using) and salt to the daal and pressure cook it for 4 whistles.

Once the daal is cooked keep it aside and prepare the sesoning.Place a pan on the stove on medium heat and add ghee/oil and mustard seeds,cumin seeds,red chilly and asafoetida.Once the seeds splutter turn off the stove and add it to the daal along with curry leaves.

Let the daal cook on the stove for 3 minutes so that the seasoning blends in well and once done turn off the stove.

Simple and healthy cucumber daal is ready to serve with rice or rotis.

Note :
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1) You can add tamarind if you want the daal to be sour.If you like it to be sourless do not add tamarind.Either way it tastes very good.

I am sending this to Delicious Dal event hosted by Suma .

I am sending this to MLLA # 23 being hosted by Susan.