Simple Drumstick Curry Recipe / Drumstick Vegetable Recipes / Vegan Drumsticks / Muringa curry

Munagakaya Curry / Simple Drumstick Curry Recipe / Drumstick Vegetable Recipes / Vegan Drumsticks / Muringa curry 

The local market here is bursting with fresh veggies like drumstick ( Muringa ), tender spring onions, green peas, tomatoes , shallots and green leafy veggies like methi etc. Needless to mention the variety of fruits - oranges, grapes, Gulab guavas, watermelons, musk melons are a few. I actually went to the market to buy some tamarind. But seeing the fresh veggies I could not resist myself and bought many of them. I felt as if the veggies were waiting for me to take then along with me. So I grabbed as many as I could. But my son who accompanied me was becoming impatient. Vegetable shopping is one thing that I simply love ❤, especially if its a farmers market.

Today I am posting a basic and simple drumstick curry with tomatoes and onions as the base. This is such a side dish that make you leave licking your fingers. The tangy and juicy tomatoes along with the onions give an excellent gravy for the tender drumsticks. This combo of tomatoes, onions and drumstick is a must try in every household at least once during this season. So lets see the preparation of munagakaya curry ( muringa curry ). 

 

You can also check my recipe of drumstick leaves chutney powder aka murungai keerai podi alias munagaku karam podi.

Preparation

Wash and cut the drumstick into finger size pieces. Put them in a tumbler and add water just enough to cover them.

Cook them on a medium flame until the drumstick become soft and tender.

In the meantime, chop the onions and tomatoes finely. Drain the water from the drumstick and keep aside. Do not throw the water, we will want to use it for the preparation of the curry. Heat a pan and add oil in it. Temper it with mustard and cumin seeds.

When they splutter, add curry leaves, red chillies and hing.

After a few seconds, add finely chopped onions and slit green chillies. 

Mix well and cook until they are translucent. Add ginger garlic paste and cook until the raw smell of ginger vanishes.

Add the finely cooked tomatoes, salt, sugar and turmeric powder.

Cook covered until the tomatoes are mushy. Now add the coconut powder, chilli powder, Garam masala powder and coriander powder. 

Give a thorough mix and add the cooked drumsticks along with the water.

Mix well. Check for seasoning and cook for another five minutes to allow the drumstick absorb the juices and spices. Serve hot with either rice 🍚 or roti.

Ingredients

Drumstick  4
Onion  3
Tomatoes  2 ( big )
Oil  2 tbsp
Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds  1 tsp
Curry leaves  few sprigs
Red chillies  2
Hing  big pinch
Salt  to taste
Coconut powder  1 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder  1 tsp
Garam masala powder  1/2 tsp
Sugar  1/2 tsp

Method

1. Wash and cut the drumstick in finger sized pieces. 
2. Cook in sufficient water until soft and tender. 
3. On cooking, drain the water and keep the drumstick aside. Retain the water as well for the preparation  of the curry. 
4. Heat oil in another pan and temper it with mustard seed, cumin seeds, curry leaves, hing and red chillies. 
5. Add finely chopped onions and slit green chillies and sauté until transparent. 
6. Throw in the ginger garlic paste and cook until the raw flavour of ginger disappears. 
7. When the onions turn light brown in colour, add chopped tomatoes, turmeric, salt and sugar. 
8. Cook uncovered until the tomatoes are completely cooked. Stir in between. 
9. Sprinkle coriander powder, chilli powder, coconut powder and garam masala powder. 
10. Mix well and add the drumstick along with the water that was preserved earlier. 
11. Mix in well and cook for another five minutes so that the drumstick absorbs all the juices and spices. 
12. Serve hot with either rice or roti. 

Notes

• You can also add veggies like potato, carrots, brinjal etc. in the above preparation along with the drumsticks. 
• Adding dried coconut powder gives a unique aroma and taste to the dish so do not skip on that step. 
• This is the basic version of the drumstick curry. Keep watching this space for more recipes on drumsticks and other veggies.
• Some people like to add some garlic pods during tempering.