Tomatillo dal is creamy and tasty dal made with moong dal and tomatillo. Its a comforting dal which can be served with rice or chapathi.
Tomatillo which is of Mexican origin is found in abundance here in Texas. The tomatillo is surrounded by a thin husk as the outer layer. When you buy them avoid the ones where the husk is dry and look for husk which is light brown in color. This is indication that the tomatillo are fresh.
Tomatillo is a good source of vitamin C. I make a dal with tomatillo. Moong dal (which is milder) combined with chillies, coconut, onion and the sour tomatillo goes well together. Once the whole thing is cooked you find the texture of the dal very creamy. Goes great with chapathi and rice.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
- Small Tomatillo: about 4 to 6 (taste the tomatillo and add depending on how sour they are)
- Moong dal: ¾ cup
- Small onion: 1, chopped
- Two big handfuls of spinach
- Green chili: 3 to 4
- Dry/fresh coconut- 2 tbsps ( optional)
For talimpu/tempering:
- Oil- 2 tsps
- Few mustard seeds
- Cumin(jeera)- ½ tsp
- Few curry leaves
- And few pinches of asafetida (hing)
Procedure:
- Cook the moong dal till soft. Keep it on the side.
- Do the tempering: In a vessel add oil and mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds start to pop add the jeera, curry leaves and chopped green chili. Fry for few seconds, then add the onion and asafoetida and cook till onion becomes soft.
- Then add the cubed tomatillo and salt and cook till tomatillo becomes soft.
- Now add the chopped spinach and coconut.
- Cook for a minute and to this add the cooked moong dal . Add some salt and enough water for to get dal consistency.
- Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook for good ten minutes till everything is well incorporated. Turn off the heat.
Let stand for few minutes, and serve with chapathi or rice.
Prabhath the DAWN :)
Hi Madhavi,
Any idea if Tomatillos are available anywhere in Bangalore, India?
I have been trying to find one vendor but I have been unlucky so far!
Also, you have mentioned in your recipe that tomatillos are found in abundance but I don’t know what is called locally here in Bangalore, India.
I tried to find details on internet and with great difficulty I found your blog 🙂
Please, could you help?
Cheers,
Prabhath MP
Madhavi K
Prabhath,
Sorry to mislead you. I was referring to them being popular here in U.S. Not sure if they are available in Bangalore. Personally I never saw them in Bangalore. You can try using green tomatoes if you are looking for that tardiness which tomatillo gives.
Hope this helps!
Ramya Krishnamurthy
lovely dal and new to me:)must try sis:)
Vijayalakshmi Dharmaraj
very healthy dal… love it…
Arthy Suman
I love this dal recipe….looks very tempting….
Sona S
healthy and delicious dal..
Sangeetha
comfort n healthy dal…great with both rice n rotis!