Stir fried dill leaves with fresh dill, spices, lentils, curry leaves and garlic. It goes well with rice or roti.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 10 minutes
  • Total time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 250 grams dill leaves
  • 1½ tablespoons oil (or ghee)
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds ((optional))
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ((jeera))
  • 2 garlic (cloves (crushed))
  • 1 to 2 green chilies (slit or chopped)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chana dal ((optional)(skinned bengal gram))
  • 1 teaspoon urad dal ((optional)(skinned black gram))
  • ¼ to ½ cup moong dal ((use as desired) (optional))
  • ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon salt ((adjust to taste))

Method

Preparation

  1. If using moong dal, add it to a bowl and rinse well. Soak it well for a minimum of 30 mins in warm water. Later drain the water before using.
  2. Add dill leaves along with the stems to a large pot filled with water. Let them rest for about 5 mins. Repeat the rinse well. Drain to a colander.

How to make

  1. Pour oil to a pan and heat it.
  2. Add mustard, cumin, chana dal and urad dal. Fry them until the dals turn golden.
  3. Then add garlic, chilli and curry leaves. Stir fry until garlic turns fragrant.
  4. Drain the water from moong dal and add it to the pan. Cover and cook on a low heat until tender. If needed sprinkle water in between.
  5. The moong dal must be cooked well but not mushy. This takes only a few minutes as the lentils are presoaked.
  6. While the lentils cook, chop the dill as desired. If you do not like to use the stems you may remove them.
  7. When the lentils are tender and done, add salt and turmeric. Evaporate any excess moisture in the pan.
  8. Add the dill to the pan and stir fry until the leaves wilt. The stems also will turn slightly tender.
  9. Serve dill stir fry with rice or roti.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.