MOONG DAL PAKODA

 

Moong dal pakoda are popular quick snack with minimal preparation and are very crunchy and delicious. Moong dal as such is very healthy, adds protein, fiber and nutrients packed to your snacking in a tasty crispy package. These lentil based fritters are best enjoyed hot with green chutney.

 

Moong dal pakoda is a healthy tea time snack adding ginger, cumin seeds that give a nice wonderful taste and aroma to the dish. Mung bean, also known as green bean,  moong,  green gram, golden gram, and green soy, is the seed of Vigna radiata which is native to Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

 

The split bean is known as moong dal,Pesara (Telugu), which is green with the husk, and yellow when dehusked. The beans are small, ovoid in shape, and green in color. The English word "mung" derives from the Hindi moong. Mung beans are mainly cultivated in India, China, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Burma, and Bangladesh, but also in hot and dry regions of southern Europe and the southern USA.

 

In India and Bangladesh, they are grown during two seasons. They are generally eaten either whole (with or without skins) as bean sprouts, or used to make the dessert "green bean soup". Mung batter is used to make crepes named pesarattu in Andhra Pradesh. Whole mung beans are generally prepared from dried beans by boiling until they are soft. Although whole mung beans are also occasionally used in Indian cuisine, beans without skins are more commonly used; but in Kerala, whole moong dal (cheru payaru) is commonly boiled to make a dry preparation that is often had with rice gruel (kanji).

 

Dehulled mung beans can also be used in a similar fashion as whole beans for the purpose of making sweet soups. Mung beans in some regional cuisines of India are stripped off their outer coats to make mung dal. In Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, steamed whole beans are seasoned with spices and grated coconut fresh grated coconut in a preparation called sundal.

 

This provides high quality protein in a raw form that is rare in most Indian regional cuisines. To prepare the Moong dal pakoda, use the moong dal with the green skin on it. This would give a good texture and taste to the dish. Soak moong dal in water for an hour. Grind the moong dal along with ginger, cumin seeds and salt .

 

The mixture should be little coarse. Add chopped onions and crushed green chillies. Mix the chopped ingredients and curry leaves with the grinded paste. Heat oil in a pan and take a handful of the batter and drop them little by little using the tips of your hand.  Deep fry them until golden brown and drain them in a paper towel, to remove excess oil. This is a common street food in Central India and as all street food very yummy too. It is served with fried green chillis and yogurt chutney. Whenever it rains these pakoda are prepared and served with a cup of green tea. 

 

Recipe: Moong Dal pakoda

Summary: Pakoda made with moong dal

Cooking time (duration): 25

Diet type: Vegetarian

Number of servings (yield): 4

Meal type: snack

My rating: 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)