Murungai Keerai Porial / Nugge Soppina Palya - Drumstick Leaves Curry

MURUNGAI KEERAI PORIAL/ 
NUGGE SOPPINA PALYA


The market is flooded with drumstick leaves since it is the Tamil month Aadi .  Murungai Keerai  Porial is especially prepared on the first day of the Aadi month called Aadi Pandigai and also on Aadi Krithigai day.  Rice, Murungai Keerai Porial, Vadai and Payasam are the main dishes prepared and offered to Lord Murugan on the festive occasion of Aadi Krithigai . After completing the Kavadi bearing ritual, the devotees return home to savour this special and nutritious home made meal along with Panchamruta prasadam (a mixture of   ripe banana, jaggery, dates, honey, ghee and nuts showered on the image of the Lord as part of the temple pooja) , which is brought back from the temple. 
 (A Kavadi is made up of  two baskets of offerings hanging from the two ends of a decorated pole and is  balanced on the shoulder of the bearer. The devotee carries the Kavadi and walks up to the temple and offers the contents to Lord Murugan to fulfill his vow of thanks giving. )
After furnishing me with all the above details my house hold help Gowri  shared the customary recipe of Murungai Keerai Porial / Nugge Soppina Palya which was prepared for the occasion. 

INGREDIENTS


Drumstick leaves/ Murungai Keerai / Nugge Soppu - 4 cups loosely packed
Ghee - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 pinch
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Powdered jaggery - 1/4 tsp (optional)
Red chillies - 2 ( broken)
Peanuts - 4 tbsps

METHOD
1. Separate the drumstick leaves from the stalk and wash thoroughly.
2. Dry roast the peanuts and grind into a coarse powder and keep aside.
3. Heat ghee and add the mustard seeds.
4. Add the broken red chillies.
5. When the chillies become crisp add the drumstick leaves and stir well.
6. Cover and cook till the leaves wilt.


7. Add salt and the jaggery powder and cook till the leaves become tender.
8. When all the water has evaporated add the coarsely ground peanut powder. (Back in the villages powdered oil cake is used instead of roasted peanut powder.) 



10. Mix well and switch off flame .



Enjoy the Murungai Keerai Porial / Nugge Soppina Palya bursting with nutrition along with rice or ragi muddae.

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