Green Gram Curry/Pachai Payaru Kuzhambu

Normally, when we heard about dhaal curry, we always imagined of dhal (lentils). I always have gas and burping problem whenever having lentil curry, so mom taught us to substitute with green gram which is more healthier and less gas problem :) I choose to skip the coconut milk and substitute with milk or leave it without adding white liquid into the curry to sustain the freshness of the curry.

My version of green gram curry as below :

Main ingredient :

• 1/2 or 1 cup of green gram (1 cup equal for 2 time meals for minimum 5 people, some people prefer green gram without skin which you can get it in supermarket or Indian Cash & Carry)
• Either put the 1/2  cup of green gram into grinder and grinder it till it become powder or boil 1 cup of green gram for 20 minutes till it become softer. 
• Salt
• Turmeric powder
• Coriander leaves

To cook it into oil and add into the green gram curry :
 

• 1 big onion (dice into small slices)
• half piece of ginger and half clove of garlic ( either pound it into pounder or put into blender and blend it)
• 3 red chillies (remove the seeds as it can cause gastric or appendix) or 3 dry chillies (chop it into 2 portion) 
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeeragam)
• 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds  (Kaduku)
• 1 teaspoon Coriander powder (Kottumalli)
• 1 teaspoon Basil Leaves (are sold in most supermarket)
• 1 teaspoon Fenugreek seeds (Venthayam)
• Asafoetida Powder (Perungakayam powder)
• Curry leaves (based on your preferences)

To put below ingredients while curry is half boiling :

• I tin of button mushroom (drain the water out and wash the button mushroom and slice it into medium slices.)
• 4 Tomatoes (Slice all the  tomatoes into 4 portion, put half portion into blender and blend it substituting with tamarind.)
• 2/3 stick of drumstick (Murungakai) chop it into 3 to 4 small sticks.
• 2 potatoes (peel the skin and cut into 4 portion)

Getting ready for Green Gram Curry :

• Rinse the green grams with water until the water becomes clear. In a medium sized pot, add about 3 cups of boiling water and turmeric powder into the washed green gram and let them simmer until boiling point on medium heat.
• Once it has reached boiling point, reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer until soften (just make sure the green grams are not too mushy).
• In the meantime, fry the onions together with the seeds, and curry leaves on a pan until the onions turn brown.
• Add ginger and garlic paste, chillies, remaining spices, potatoes and tomato paste and continue frying until aromatic.
• When the green grams  are soften, add the fried mixtures into the green grams and stir well. Let it simmer and add in the drumsticks and button mushrooms for further 10 minutes. 
• While it looks like going to boil, add in the remain chopped tomatoes. 
• Just before serving, sprinkle chopped coriander over curry and serve it with hot cooked rice and other side dishes :)