Andhra Style Menthi Kura Pappu, Methi dal is nutritious and delicious lentil recipe with fresh fenugreek leaves. With just few handful of pantry friendly ingredients and tempering, this dal is comforting and bursting with flavors. In Andhra households, the classic combination of hot rice, a dollop of ghee, and a generous serving of Methi Dal is a soul-soothing experience. Do give this a try!
About This Recipe
Methi Dal (Hindi) – Menthi Kura Pappu (Telugu). Methi and Menthi Kura are fresh fenugreek leaves. Dal and Pappu is lentil. Methi Dal is not only tasty but also good for health because of fenugreek leaves. Fenugreek leaves, known for its health benefits are always been part of India’s rich culinary heritage. These small, strong-smelling leaves are packed with good things for your health. They help keep cholesterol in check and make digestion better.
Fenugreek leaves contain compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation in the body. Fenugreek is commonly recommended in traditional medicine to promote milk production in lactating mothers.
Plant-based methi dal is a vegan, gluten-free and rich in plant protein recipe. Fresh methi leaves and toor dal are the main ingredients in making this dal. Every house has its own variation of making this dal. The methi dal recipe I am sharing with you is quick, easy and simple.
Methi Dal Ingredients
Fresh Methi Leaves (Fenugreek Leaves): Add a distinctive, slightly bitter flavor to the dal. Rich in vitamins and minerals, they contribute to the nutritional profile of the dish.
Toovar Dal: Also known as pigeon pea lentils, serves as the base for the dal. It adds a creamy texture and is a good source of protein and dietary fiber.
Onion: Sliced onions enhance the savory taste of the dal, providing a sweet and aromatic flavor. Onions also add texture and depth to the dal.
Green Chilli: Bring a hint of spice to the methi dal, balancing the overall flavor profile. Adjust the quantity based on your spice preference.
Tamarind: Provides a sour and tangy element to the dal, enhancing its overall taste. It also adds a subtle fruity flavor, balancing the bitterness of methi leaves.
Tempering | Tadka: Simple tempering unlocks a world of flavors, making this dal a sensory delight.
Tips & Variations
Instead of adding tamarind, you can add tomatoes. Try to use country tomatoes, as they bring necessary sourness to the dal.
Instead of green chilies, you can add red chili powder. But for leafy greens green chili compliments the taste and flavour.
You can even add red chili powder and green chilies, deepening on the availability. But adjust the spice according to your spice preference.
You can even use yellow moong dal (yellow lentils) instead of toor dal. Or you can use half of moong and half of toor dal.
NOTE: There is difference in taste depending on the ingredients used in the recipe.
Methi Dal | Menthi Kura Pappu
Cooking methi dal is like making a beautiful piece of music where each spice creates a wonderful sound. The fenugreek leaves add a special bitter-sweet taste that mixes well with the soft flavor of the dal. Green chilies add spice and onions add texture in this recipe.
As the dal simmers to perfection, the final act – the tadka or tempering – elevates the dish to a higher plane. A heated concoction of oil and tempering spices, poured over the creamy dal just before serving adds aroma and flavor to the dal. The sizzling aroma that envelopes the entire kitchen captivates the senses.
To serve this comforting bowl, a steaming hot portion of white rice forms the ideal base. A generous dollop of ghee atop the rice makes the flavors even more profound. Accompanied by the crispness of muruku or the light crunch of papad, methi dal becomes a meal that is not just satiating but also a lavish indulgence.
This delicious and healthy meal is full of Ayurvedic benefits and the warmth of home cooking. Methi dal is a simple and delightful dish that truly shows the heart of Indian food.
This methi dal is going to participate in MLLA -19 hosted by EC of Simple Indian Food, event by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook.
Best Dal Recipes
Ambade ki Bhaji Dal | Gongura Pappu – Toor dal with Red Sorrel leaves.
Hyderabadi Meethi Dal – Lentils without tamarind.
Chugur Dal – Toor dal with fresh and tender tamarind leaves.
Dosakaya Pappu – Toor dal with Madras (yellow) cucumber.
Mudda Pappu – No spice, soft and creamy dal.
Ponnaganti Aaku Kandipappu Koora – Tamil Nadu special local leafy green with lentils.
Bachali Kura Pappu – Andhra special leafy greens with toor dal.
Chukka Kura Pappu – Local leafy greens with toor dal.
Get updates on the latest posts and more from Yummy Food straight to your inbox.
Methi Dal Recipe
Andhra Style Menthi Kura Pappu, Methi dal is nutritious and delicious lentil recipe with fresh fenugreek leaves. With just few handful of pantry friendly ingredients and tempering, this dal is comforting and bursting with flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup fresh Methi leaves | Fenugreek leaves
- 1 cup Toor dal
- 1 Onion, peeled and sliced
- 6-8 Green chilies
- 1 small lemon sized Tamarind, washed
- ½ tbsp MTR Sambar powder
- ¼ tbsp Turmeric powder
- Salt
Tadka | Tempering
- 1 tbsp Jeera | Cumin seeds
- ½ tbsp Mustard seeds
- 1 dry Red chili
- 3-4 cloves Garlic, crushed
- 9-10 fresh Curry leaves
- Oil
Instructions
How To Make Methi Dal | Menthi Kura Pappu Recipe
Thoroughly wash toor dal and drain all the water. Wash methi leaves 2-3 times and drain all the water.
In a pressure cooker, add toor dal, methi leaves, onion slices, green chilies, turmeric powder, sambar powder and tamarind along with water.
Pressure cook for 3-4 whistles or till the dal is soft. Wait till pressure settles.
Open the pressure cooker lid and add salt. Mash the dal and set aside.
I use whisk or wooden masher to mash my dal. I do not like softly mashed dal. Little bite in the dal enhances the taste and texture of methi dal.
In a small pan, heat oil for tempering.
When the oil is warm add mustard and cumin seeds. When the cumin seeds start to splutter, add crushed garlic, dry red chilies and curry leaves.
On low flame, fry till garlic turns nice golden. Turn off the flame.
Carefully pour this tempering over the mashed dal and place the lid.
Leave for 5 minutes. Remove in a serving bowl and serve hot with rice and any fry or curry of your choice.
Add love to make this Methi Dal taste 'Yummy'.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 202mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 13gSugar: 13gProtein: 12g
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Jo says
Haha .. sounds a bit like a conversation that I would have with my hubby! The "less sitting in front of the computer" bit. Lovely dish and great pictures as usual.
Kitchen Flavours says
That was super fast Jo…thank you for the comment….
Prathibha says
Hmmm…ghar ghar ki kahani aise hi ho raha aaj kal especially for food bloggers….I love methi dal,looks yummy..I can see some brinjal's beside,hope that is ur next post dear…Yummy looking pongal too..
Kitchen Flavours says
Prathibha – I really love the way you concentrate on my pictures….thank u for the fast comment….
Sharmilee! :) says
Healthy dal, and colorful click of the pongal! Nice conversation 🙂
sowmya.s says
nice yummy dal..healthy too..
vidhas says
Lovley dish, enjoyed reading. Awesome Clicks asusual.
Sushma Mallya says
Healthy and yummy dal…must have been very flavourful too…pics are lovely as usual
Sum says
A wonderful simple food 🙂 I love this…
Priya Narasimhan says
oh…you are also into feeding fish, ploughing etc..My BIL's family who came down from Delhi for vacation was literally addicted with it..funny conversation and healthy dal.:-)
Priya says
Lubna, guess wat am also trying to be in diet and the conservation sounds little bit like wat me & my husband had recently here…methi dal looks fantastic and real comforting food..can see chakkali and stuffed brinjal besides the beautiful methi dal…Thats so nice of valar for her sweet pongal na…
Valarmathi says
I made this for lunch yesterday, adding sambhar powder is new to me. Will add next time. Btw side dish brinjal got my attention more than the dal. It looks very yummyyyy… Recipe please?And really surprised that you took pic of the pongal that i gave it you and posted it. Happy that you liked it. Thank you 🙂
Tina says
Methi dal sounds healthy and yummy…
Kanchan says
even I have virtual farm + cafe + aquarium, and i have to put a reminder to take a look @ them, else you know it might give me a big time Loss !! :(Anyways, loved your version of methi dal ; very simple and looks beautiful as always 🙂
Happy Cook says
I have this smile reading your conversation with your hubby.And then you running to the pc after he going to the office.Delicous dal wish i got methi leaves here.
Kitchen Flavours says
Thank you Sharmilee, Sowmya, Vidhas, Sushma, Sum, Priya, Sadia, Priya, Valar, Tina, Kanchan and Happy Cook.
Curry Leaf says
This scene plays here also everyday Lubna.Only thing is repeated in the afternoon and night time as well.Even if I am not in front of the computer I get the blame.Delicious and heathy and comforting dal.I think you can send it to Yasmeen's event as well.
jeyashrisuresh says
loved the conversation.Dal looks so yummy and even i want this to try a long back,but somehow forgot.will try soon.Great click.
Khaugiri says
khaye jao khaye jao…. food blog ke gun gaye jao:). Even i have that green plate….. see my tilachi vadi's post….
shanthi says
Simple and healthy
notyet100 says
yummy dal nd awesome clicks,..
Rachana Kothari says
The methi daal looks wowwww….yummy, am planning to make it now:) i loved the conversation… can relate to it fully:)
Nandini says
So similar with the ones I have with my hubby! Methi dal chamak raha hai! It's very tempting!
Sadia Naseeb says
i can totally relate to the dieting and sitting in front of computer part ..just replace hubby with my ammi .. hehe
Meethi daal looks yummy and the pictures are tempting as always.
SE says
Enjoyed reading your virtual exercises in virtual farm !! good one..lovely dish and pictures !
Asha says
Then people we women don't work hard!! Crazy!! Yes, my hubby would have me not blogging at all if he had given a choice! :PMethi dal looks gorgeous. I don't get fresh ones here, frozen packs has more twigs than tender leaves!!:D
RAKS KITCHEN says
Wonderful clicking of both dal and pongal !The same conversation will go on many of the Blogger's home;) even i am telling myself this now a days.
Mahimaa's kitchen says
neat pictures… you are getting better and better day by day with photography. methi dal looks yummmy… and chakkara pongal too.
Renuka Bedre - Rao says
loved readin this post..so so so yummy pics!! awesome!!Renukahttp://cookingyummy.blogspot.com/
A 2 Z Vegetarian Cuisine says
Lovely dal, super beautiful pictures. Couldn't stop laughing at the conversation you had between you and your husband. Sitting before the computer, i would say is the same story and same advice in every house.
Kitchen Flavours says
Thank you Curry Leaf, Jeyashri, Ms.Chitchat, Khaugiri, Aparna, Shanti, Priyanka, Rachana, Nandini, SE, Asha, Sonia, Raks, Mahimaa, Renuka and A2Z.
DEESHA says
LOL this sounds so much like my day .. the dal looks yummy Lubna, & so does the pongal
Ms.Chitchat says
Enjoyed the write-up, very practical and true :):) Many of us can relate to those conversations :):) A very healthy dish and would love to have it with garam rotis.
Chitchat
Gita says
A part of your morning routine does sound like mine too 🙂 Nice pictures Lubna…healthy dish overall 🙂
Aparna Vijay says
Ha ha nice conversation..good blog too..
Natashya KitchenPuppies says
Looks tasty! I have never had fresh methi leaves before.
Rahin says
comfort food written all over it , dal looks delicious
Deepa G Joshi says
i guess almost the same picture in my house ;)..love the clicks..nice pongal
Siddhi S says
wow nice rich dal lubna…the dishes along wid it also luks yumm…gr8 recipe
chakhlere says
Methi Dal is my all time fav and comfort food.Very lovely and typical conversation…!!!
Sonia (Nasi Lemak Lover) says
This look so yummy !!
Dershana says
he he he, no wonder you love FB! I've been getting invites from friends on FB to become their virtual neighbour etc…but i know i will get hooked, and getting virtually hooked right now is really bad with my current tight schedule:-)i too love fresh fenugreek in my dhal. love the fantastic picture, as usual.
Devon says
Please explain what those light brown spiky "vegetables?" are in that bowl. I'm very curious.
Sayantani says
Methi Dals are a fav at our household as well. we have grown our own methi greens in the veggie patch. the dish looks lovely and beautiful click as always.
Yasmeen says
Blogging can get addictive my dear.I feel the same some times.I love methi dal 😀
Katy ~ says
I was laughing so much at your post. It is very much like that here, too.Delicious post!
Home Cooked Oriya Food says
really healthy dal…Yummy click too…
Sunshinemom says
Happy virtual farming, Lubna!This is amongst my favourite dals too but I use kasuri methi.
jayasri says
To tell you the truth love!, Aren't you lucky ?, that you can spend lot of your time on the computer !!, I was like you when I was in India, Breakfast, lunch both done by 9:30, MIL never ate breakfast, so I had to cook both together, so she could eat something when she used to leave house around 10 -10:30 (she wasn't working, she was social worker),Now I don't do anything in the morning !, kids take bread, R takes left over from yesterdays!!!, and I always cook in the night !!, and don't get time to sit on the comp work and busy home by the time I come back !! and with all this when I decide to sit I have 3 teenagers not giving it to me!!, methi dal looks yummy and chakra pongal looks gorgeous too!!, My happiness lies in this blogging and lovely friends like you to whom I talk.., sorry for writing such a lenghthy comment, I don't mind if you did not publish, I felt like I was talking to you reading the conversation 🙂
Soma Pradhan says
Sounds a great combination..will try out soon
Faith says
Lol, yes it definitely is a very good workout! 🙂 It looks like this is a really delicious dal…I love your pictures!
Cham says
Virtual world fun! Lovely dish _ I love this combo!
K says
Haha! Addicted to Farmville, is it? I too was for few days, then got bored! The typical gemini thing:)Methi dal and murukku look yum!
Kitchen Flavours says
Thank you Deesha, Sayantani, Gita, Nataysha, Rahin, Deepa, Siddhi, Chaklere, Jayasri, Dershana, Faith, Yasmeen, Katy, Somoo, Sunshinemom, Soma, Cham and K.
Kitchen Flavours says
Jayasri – Iam not complaining….just letting know my changed life style dear….no probs about the long comment…i always adore them….life has become crazy for me…not boring or dull….that's the hidden meaning of my post…if u have time read the complete one in my hobby blog….thank u so much for dropping by here and putting down your life…
Malar Gandhi says
Dear,Please check out 'Kitchen Mishaps Event Roundup' at my blog.http://www.kitchentantra.com/2010/01/kitchen-mishaps-event-round-up.htmlI appreciate, your comforting words to the participants. I believe, it will greatly boost their energy…who daringly shared their cooking disasters.Thank you,Malar Gandhiwww.kitchentantra.com
Varunavi says
Ha ha ha.Me too wait for hubby to go so that i open my laptop.I am not getting time for browsing,stopped farming.
Parita says
Lovely pictures Lubna!!!
Gulmohar says
Sounds very healthy and yumm…loved the colorful Pongal click too 🙂
Padma says
Healthy and yummy dal. The conversation reminded the ones going on in my house too Lubna. The only difference is that I cannot say I am making soup for lunch as hubby will come home for lunch all days 🙂
Bong Mom says
Ha ha, very funny. The dal looks great but where is the bhendi ?
Suma Rajesh says
nie reading ur post..also the dish looks tempting..
Chitra says
Nice , yummy dal..As prathiba said Me too waiting for tat brinjal recipe 😉
AshKuku says
WOW!!!! Yummy clicks & preps.. Now words to express…Ash…(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)
Ivy says
Haha, that conversation sounds familiar.. Methi dal sounds delicious.
Priyameena says
Wow…this looks great…Definetly will taste better than soup/salad..Pongal too looks yummy!
Swathi says
lubna,Methi dal looks very nice, my hubby also tells me to do some work out. i can' live with out my computer.so he knows after he goes to work, i will go in front of computer
Superchef says
LOL at the daily routine 🙂
Mallugirl says
HA! soul sis or what? i made the dry version and now u are tempting me to try the gravy version. lucky hub to get fresh lunch!
Shri says
Fun reading the conversation…great looking dal, Lubna!
Faiza Ali says
The methi dal looks yummy and healthy…lovely clicks as usual dear and loved reading your post…It the same story everywhere these days…Everyone is getting addicted to those FB games…Even my husband tells me the same thing, when I tell him about dieting 😀
Amanda says
Wow the photographs on your blog are stunning!!
SriLekha says
looks so yummy!
Thas says
Enjoy all the free time and do all the things you love to do:) Nowdays, only one thing I can't handle is when my internet connection gets slow, so I totally get ya.
This is a real healthy and delicious recipe, I have to look for fenugreek leaves here.
Also, I've shared an award for you in my blog, please accept that. Glad to have foodie friends like you.
Kitchen Flavours says
Malar – Thank you Varunavi, Parita, Gulmohar, Padma, Suma, Chitra, Ash, Ivy, Priyameena, Swathi, Shri, Superchef, Mallugirl, Faiza, Amanda and Srilekha. Bong Mom – Thank you for the comment. I think you did not read the full post…this post is about Methi Dal not Bhendi….Thas – Thank you so much for the award and comment.
homecooked says
I think I am the only one not to get into virtual farming :)Maybe I can borrow some plants from you 😉 I love your clicks…they are beautiful as always. The dal looks delicious!
Jagruti says
Hi Lubna, iwas trying to find your name coz how can i start then i saw your name in one of the comment..thank you very much visiting my blog..so nice of you..Methi daal looks yummy and creamy…pics are good..cheers cu soon..
Ramya Vijaykumar says
Oh thats every husbands complain, that wife sits in front of the laptop all the time… 5 mins ago I heard him saying its beena long time now 🙂 but who can resist this virtual house… Anyways your dish looks very tem pting and lovely pics!!!
Kalai says
Awesome clicks! One of my fav dish..dal and methi..but mine never looked quite stylish!
Thanks for visiting my blog, you have wonderful blog here with great recipes. Adding you to my blog list.
FoodLovers says
nice write up Lubna … enjoyed reading urs …
yes the same complaint with my hubby me sitting on the computer
and again comming back to ur recipe a nice click
Madhavi says
Very healthy dal!!
ruchikacooks says
Nodakke Tumba Channage Idhe :)(Hope I got that right)
Kitchen Flavours says
Thank you Homecooked, Jagruti, Kalai, Food Lovers, Ramya, Madhavi and Ruchika.
EC says
Even I get addicted to the computer..earlier I used to login as soon as I finish brushing teeth..now a bit relaxed..this dal looks yumm and healthy too..thanks for participating