Moringa tree (moringa oleifera) / drumstick tree is known as a miracle tree. It is better known as Saragva, Saijan bhaji , Swanjera, muringakka.It has many health benefits and can be made in various ways to make delicious recipes. The below recipe is an easy curry where we cook green drumsticks in a tomato sauce.This is one of the easy recipes which is perfect for busy weeknight.This curry is pretty common across southern India and also with Sindhi community.We call it as Bhugal singhyun while Odia community calls is chuin aloo tarkari when cooked with potatoes. You can pair drumstick recipe with plain rice or roti for a simple meal.
This tree is widely available even in drought affected areas. Hence you can find it even where water table is very low like Africa and some parts of India too. I wish people planted this along the sidewalks. May be the homeless could use it. The tree anyway would need less work. You can make curries of moringa pods and dried or tender moringa leaves too.
Benefits of Moringa
- Drumstick is also called golden shower tree. It does shower us with vitamin C, calcium and Iron.
- It is given specially to lactating mothers.
- It also aids in digestion in young children.
- Doctors also recommend it to fight cold and flu.
- It also increases bone density.
- It helps fight malnutrition and strengthen bones.
Ingredients
- moringa sticks
- onion
- ginger
- tomato puree
- basic spice powder (turmeric, paprika, coriander powder)
- oil
- salt as per taste
refer to recipe card for details.
Instructions
- Heat oil in pressure cooker . Once hot add cumin seeds and chopped onions along with salt. Let it cook until pink.
- Add chopped tomatoes and let it soften. Now add the spices like coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt. Cook until the oil separates.
- Add frozen or fresh moringa sticks and mix well.
- Add waterenough just to cover everything. and let it pressure cook until 1 whistle.
- Garnish will coriander leaves and serve with roti/chapati or white/lemon rice. You can store this recipe for 2-4 days in refrigerator. You can also freeze this recipe. Just give it a boil before you eat.
Variations
You can add some soaked moong dal / tuvar dal to this Indian curry recipe as a variation. You will find curry recipes made with even the flowers and leaves of this tree in south indian cuisine. Sambar is also cooked with moringa dal and choice of vegetables like radish, turnip, shallots, carrots in South India.
Non-vegetarians can add this to their chicken curry to make a chicken drumstick curry. You can also make creamy curry with some yogurt and chickpea flour, Gujarati style. Also known as Saragva nu shak. You can also prepare curry base with green chillies, curry leaves, thick coconut milk, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garam masala, mustard seeds. Best served with hot rice.
Related recipes
Moringa curry
Equipment
- pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 300 gms drumstick approx,you can add add/remove as per your liking
- 2 tablespoon oil or ghee
- 1 tablespoon ginger paste or grated
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 medium onion chopped. optional, you can avoid onion if you like.
- 2 medium tomatoes purees or chopped
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tbsp. coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder or as per taste
- 1 cup water
- Salt as per taste
Instructions
- If you are using fresh drumstick, then chop the end, cut into small pieces, wash and use. If you are using a frozen pack of drumstick, then use it straight from the freezer.
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add cumin seeds. Let it splutter.
- Add chopped onions,ginger and salt. Cook until pink.
- Add chopped tomatoes and let it soften.Add spices and mix well.
- Now, add the drumstick pieces along with 1 cup water and cook until 1 whistle. Do not overcook as it will turn mushy.
- Serve hot with rice or roti.
FAQ
Use a spoonful in dal or add it to stuffing for parathas. You can also make moringa tea with lemon and honey.
Shobhanjana. The tamil name is Murungai.
Conclusion: Drumstick curry recipe is a perfect example how practical Indian cooking uses superfood like moringa drumsticks. This simple dish is perfect for daily meals and can be made with both frozen and fresh drumsticks whaterver is available.
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