From the recipe box
Menthaaku Pappu (Methi 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
Vegetables
Menthaaku (Methi / Fenugreek leaves), Onion
From my kitchenCook this meal
Ingredients & method
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Cook
- 30 mins
- Total
- 40 mins
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 cuptoor dal (kandi pappu)
- 2½-3 cupswater (for cooking dal)
- to tasteSalt
- 3 cupsfresh menthaaku (fenugreek leaves), washed and chopped OR 2 cups frozen menthaaku
- 1medium onion, sliced
- 1½ teaspoonstamarind paste OR tamarind extract from a small lemon-sized piece of tamarind
- 1 teaspooncoriander powder
- ¼ teaspoonturmeric powder
- to tasteSalt
- as neededWater
- 1-2 tablespoonsoil
- ½ teaspoonmustard seeds
- ½ teaspooncumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 teaspoonsplit urad dal
- 1 teaspoonchana dal
- 2-3dried red chilies
- 5-6curry leaves
- ¼ teaspoonhing (asafoetida)
- —Instructions (Traditional Stovetop Method)
- —Wash the toor dal and pressure cook separately with water until soft and completely cooked. Mash well and keep aside.
- —Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter.
- —Add cumin seeds, urad dal, chana dal, dried red chilies, curry leaves, and hing. Allow the tempering to become fragrant.
- —Add sliced onions and sauté until they soften.
- —Add the chopped menthaaku and sauté until the leaves wilt down.
- —Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, tamarind, salt, and enough water to create a slightly loose consistency.
- —Cover and simmer until the menthaaku is fully cooked and the flavors come together.
- —Add the cooked toor dal and mix well. Adjust water and salt as needed.
- —Simmer for a few more minutes until the dal and greens combine well.
Serve hot with rice and ghee.
- —Instructions (One Pot Instant Pot Method)
- —Turn the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add oil and prepare the tempering with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, chana dal, dried red chilies, curry leaves, and hing.
- —Add sliced onions and sauté until slightly softened.
- —Add menthaaku and sauté until the leaves wilt.
- —Add washed toor dal, turmeric, coriander powder, tamarind, salt, and water.
- —Mix well, close the lid, and pressure cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- —Allow natural pressure release, then open and mix well.
- —Adjust consistency with hot water if needed and serve with rice and ghee.
Notes & Tips
- Menthaaku Pappu is a classic Telugu comfort food where the slight bitterness of fenugreek leaves is balanced by onion sweetness and tamarind tang.
- Fresh or frozen menthaaku both work well. Frozen leaves make this a very convenient weekday dal.
- For the best flavor, sauté the menthaaku well before adding water — this helps reduce the raw leafy taste.
- Garlic is intentionally not used in this Telugu Brahmin-style preparation.
- If using frozen menthaaku, you may need slightly less water since frozen greens release moisture as they cook.
- This is a perfect everyday pappu to serve with hot rice and a spoon of ghee.
Step by step
Method
- 01
Method coming soon — ingredients are listed from the master sheet.
