Murungaikai Molakootal Recipe (Drumstick Molakootal Recipe)

     Here is yet another traditional molakootal recipe from "God's own country" - Kerala. This time the key ingredient is drumstick - the iron rich vegetable. This dish is quicker and simpler than the other molakootals, with the absence of mashed toor dal in it.
     This is one other vegetable that is not so frequently available in the food markets in USA. Hence it is cooked with so much reverence on the same day or next day of purchase, without letting it decay in the fridge - mainly due to its price and its once-in-a-blue-moon appearance at the supermarkets :P

Ingredients:
1. Drumstick - 2
2. Turmeric powder - 2 tsp
3. Grated coconut - 3 tbsp
4. Red chillies - 2
5. Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
6. Hing - 2 tsp
7. Salt - as required
8. Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
9. Curry leaves - a sprig
10. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Prep Time: 5 mins || Cook Time: 35 mins || Serves: 4 || Category: Rice Accompaniment  Molakootal

Method:
1. Wash and cut the drumstick to about 1 inch long pieces. Add a cup of water and mix turmeric powder in it. Transfer the drumstick pieces into turmeric water and boil it until the drumstick pieces are well cooked.

2. Meanwhile in a mixie jar, take grated coconut, cumin seeds, dry red chillies, hing and salt. Add little water and grind the contents to a smooth paste.

 3. To the cooked drumstick, add the ground paste and mix well.

 4. Let the ground paste and drumstick get cooked together for 3-5 mins. Lastly temper with mustard seeds and curry leaves in coconut oil and switch off the flame.

Suggestions:

• Drumstick can also be cooked in pressure cooker for 1 or 2 whistles instead of parboiling in an open pan.
• Using coconut oil for tempering gives an authentic taste to the recipe.