From the recipe box
Dosakaya Pappu (Yellow Cucumber Dal)
Kooras, pappus, rasam, pulusu, kootu, and the modular sides that build a Telugu thaali.
- Protein
- Toor dal
- Meal format
- South Indian Thaali Items
- Base
- Rice, Millets, Grains
Dosakaya (Yellow cucumber), Toor dal (Kandi pappu)
From my kitchenCook this meal
Ingredients & method
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Cook
- 25 mins
- Total
- 35 mins
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 cuptoor dal (kandi pappu), washed
- 1medium dosakaya, peeled, seeds removed if mature, and cut into small cubes
- 2½-3 cupswater
- to tasteSalt
- ¼ teaspoonturmeric powder
- 1-2 teaspoonstamarind paste OR Small amount of tamarind extract
- 1-2 tablespoonsoil or ghee
- ½ teaspoonmustard seeds
- ½ teaspooncumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 teaspoonsplit urad dal
- 1 teaspoonchana dal
- 1-2green chilies, slit
- 5-6curry leaves
- ¼ teaspoonhing (asafoetida)
Notes & Tips
- Dosakaya Pappu is a simple Telugu comfort food that relies on the natural flavor of the dosakaya, so it does not need onion or garlic.
- Choose a fresh dosakaya that is firm and has a pleasant aroma. Some dosakaya varieties can be slightly bitter, so taste a small piece before cooking.
- If your dosakaya has a naturally strong tang, you may not need tamarind at all.
- The key to this pappu is keeping it simple — soft dal, tender dosakaya, and a flavorful tempering are all it needs.
- This pairs beautifully with hot rice, ghee, and a simple vegetable kura.
Step by step
Method
- 01
Wash the dosakaya, peel the skin, remove mature seeds if needed, and cut into small cubes.
- 02
Add the washed toor dal, chopped dosakaya, turmeric, and water into a pressure cooker or Instant Pot.
- 03
Pressure cook until the dal and dosakaya are completely soft:
- 04
Instant Pot: High Pressure for 10 minutes, natural release
- 05
Stovetop pressure cooker: 3-4 whistles
- 06
Mash the cooked dal and dosakaya together until well combined.
- 07
Add salt and mix well. Taste the dal before adding tamarind — dosakaya naturally has a pleasant tang, and extra tamarind is only needed if the vegetable is very bland.
- 08
Prepare the tadka by heating oil or ghee. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter.
- 09
Add cumin seeds, urad dal, chana dal, green chilies, curry leaves, and hing. Sauté until fragrant.
- 10
Pour the tadka over the cooked dosakaya pappu and mix well.
- 11
Serve hot with rice and ghee.
