After weeks of indulging into festive foods, its high time to share some healthy and everyday dishes that I cook for my family. Lentils aka Daal is a favorite dish in my home. My boys love all sorts of daals. I feel happy and satisfied to see them eating healthy and protein packed foods (at least for weekday dinners).
During my recent trips to Indian grocery store, I noticed some greens that I had never seen before. The label on them said ‘Drumstick leaves’. Not knowing how to use them I did not buy them. I was curious what they were used for. After researching a little bit I found out that these leaves are a nutritional power-house. Here is the nutrition information from wikipedia: The leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant source of B vitamins, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese, and protein, among other essential nutrient
One day, during my evening walks with my friend Indu, I asked her if she knows anything about drumstick leaves and how to use them. She told me that they use it a lot in south Indian cooking, especially in making lentils. I had to get her recipe and try it. The next time I was in Edison buying my Indian groceries, I picked up a pack of fresh drumstick leaves. I got Indu’s recipe and I was surprised how easy it was to cook with these leaves. They have a very mild flavor and really can be used in many recipes making them really versatile.
This recipe requires few dried red chilies (I used the milder ones), fresh coconut, rice flour, cumin and turmeric. Since I love garlic in my lentils, I decided to add garlic to Indu’s original recipe. Also, I decided to use the red lentils instead of the yellow lentils just for a change. Yellow lentils work very well with this recipe too.
Rinse the leaves, pat dry using paper towels and then pull the leaves way from the steam using thumb and index fingers. Discard the stems.
Wash and rinse the lentils, add 1 cup of water and pressure cook them for 10-15 mins until the lentils are soft and mushy. The can also be cooked in a slow cooker, crock pot or stove-top. While the lentils are cooking, grind fresh coconut, garlic, red chillies cumin and rice flour together to a fine paste using a tablespoon of water.
Heat a heavy bottom pot on medium heat. Add ghee and the finely ground spice paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes stirring frequently.
Add drumstick leaves and cook them for another 1-2 minute.
Whisk the cooked lentils, add turmeric to it and add it to the pot. Add salt to taste and cook until the lentils come to a full boil.
Turn the heat off and the lentils are ready to be served with hot rice or parathas.
Recipe:
Prep time: 10 mins Cooking time:25 mins Total time: 35 mins
Ingredients:
1 cup red or yellow lentils
4 oz drumstick leaves (1 cup packed)
1 tbsp ghee
2 tbsp grated coconut
1 tbsp rice flour (I like Bob’s red mill organic white rice flour)
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2-3 dried red chillies (I used mild ones)
1/8 tsp turmeric
4 peeled garlic cloves
Directions:
- Rinse the leaves, pat dry using paper towels and then pull the leaves way from the steam using thumb and index fingers. Discard the stems.
- Wash and rinse the lentils, add 1 cup of water and pressure cook them for 10-15 mins until the lentils are soft and mushy. The can also be cooked in a slow cooker, crock pot or stove-top. While the lentils are cooking, grind fresh coconut, garlic, red chillies cumin and rice flour together to a fine paste using a tablespoon of water.
- Heat a heavy bottom pot on medium heat. Add ghee and the finely ground spice paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes stirring frequently. Add drumstick leaves and cook them for another 1-2 minute. Whisk the cooked lentils, add turmeric to it and add it to the pot. Add salt to taste and cook until the lentils come to a full boil. Turn the heat off and the lentils are ready to be served with hot rice or parathas.
Enjoy!
Author: Archana
Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
That looks so good Archana. I’ve never heard of drumstick leaves before. How interesting and delicious this is.
Thank you Suzanne! I also discovered then recently. They have a mild flavor and can be used in many recipes. Super healthy and delicious.
I love drumsticks! We had a drumstick tree when we lived in Vellore, S. India. I don’t remember ever eating the leaves though. I would love to get hold of some Moringa seeds!
I grew up eating drumsticks but never ate the leaves! Now they all always available in the Indian groceries, so it’s easier to just pick them up. Want to try making other dishes with these leaves. Thank you!
I have yet to see them in Indian stores but I will continue to keep my eyes open.
Here in New Jersey they are available. Hopefully they will soon appear at a store near you!
This recipe is so good! Specially drumstick leaves and the masala paste.I don’t get those leaves in London,can I use any other leaves?Archana what do you think would go good with this masala paste?
Thank you Payal! Spinach will work very well for this recipe. I would love to know how you make out!
Great! Definitely I will let you know!I might use kale and watercress !I love these leaves!Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Yes! Both kale and watercress will work great.
Thank you!
This looks super delicious Archana..will sure give a try and let you know..
Thank you Lathi!
Looks scrumptious Archana! ?
Thank you Nafisa!
Such a yummy and comforting meal 🙂
Thank you Freda! Make a perfect weeknight dinner.
Very tasty and healthy recipe. Thanks for sharing as always . Good night. Attaya
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Thank you Aatya! I know you love this recipe. I hope you get to enjoy it often.
Yummm
Thank you Neethu!
Simple yet beautiful 🙂 Life is Good !
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Thank you Hans! You said it right, simple but beautiful and so healthy!
Yumm!! I love a good fragrant dish like this (: So simple to make as well.
Thank you Nicolas! I agree Simple foods are the best.
Wow Archana – I’ve not heard of these leaves before either and imagine they’d be a rarity here in Australia but perhaps I’d substitute them with curry leaves….
Thank you Laura! Make it with Spinach or Kale leaves if you do not find drumstick leaves. I would love to know how you like it.
Great tip – thank you!
Love lentils! Nice recipe Archana?
Thank you Mona! It is healthy and delicious.
something new for me…. this looks amazing…..
Thank you Sudhir! I learnt about drumstick leaves recently too. They have a mild flavor so can compliment many dishes.
So yummy & interesting 🙂 🙂
Thank you Utkarshini! I thought the same, once I read all the nutrition facts I had to make them. So delicious.
We get plenty of drumstick leaves here.I will try your recipe soon.
Thank you Anuradha! That is great! Please let me know how you like it.
Sure Archana.
Very healthy tasty share… Looks superb. Thank you for sharing Archana
Thank you Ruchi!
I love curries, especially, the authentic Indian recipes. Here in Mauritius, the indo-mauritians changed a lot of things in the recipes to make them look and taste more ‘tropical’ i guess …
Hi Desiree, I have some authentic indian recipes and I will try my best to post more.
Hi Acharna 🙂 So nice from you
Nice recipe. I have eaten Drumsticks loads of time but never the leaves. It’s a nice idea 🙂
Thank you Prajakta. I grew up eating drumsticks, which I love, and now I like the leaves too. Very versatile and can be used in many recipes.
Both are very healthy and nutritious!!
Love drumstick leaves. Great post Archana.
Thank you Sumith!
This sounds like a perfect recipe. It makes an attractive dish, is tasty, and is easy to make.
Thank you Sheryl!
Archana,
I love drumsticks but have never used the leaves either. Your recipe is inspiring me to go find them in the Indian store!
Thank you Sandhya! I hope you find them, they are very versatile and healthy
Reblogged this on Chef Ceaser.
Thank you!
I had no idea you could eat Moringa leaves. I’ll have to give them a try if I find them at the store. As always, your lentils turned out beautiful.
Thank you Ellie! I hope you find Moringa leaves, if not try the recipe with spinach.
Great suggestion. I’ll give it a try 🙂
I would love to know how you like it.
Nice recipe share, Archana. Yeah the leaves are the most nutrient rich source.
I use Drumsticks but never tried or tasted any recipe using the leaves. I need to check them out in the Vegetable markets here in the UAE, I have not seen them in the supermarkets though.
Thank you Ashu. I hope you find them in the Indian groceries. Only recently I started noticing them here in the US.
This dish looks super tasty and easy to prepare! Thanks for sharing it!
Thank you Starr! It is super healthy too!!
One has to try this recipe to actually know what magic the ground paste does to a daal. Besides the pain of separating each leaf it is a very very easy and tastee recipe. Tried this it this week for dinner. Came out well but will notch up the spice level next time. Something I can now share with family and look good. Thanks to you Archana.
Hi Medha! I am happy you enjoyed this healthy drumsticks leaves recipe. It is on a repeat in our family. And I wish there was an easy way to separate the leaves. Cleaning them ahead of time is the only thing I can think of! Thank you for trying these recipes and taking time to give your feedback. These comments truly make my day!