Dalimbi Usal/ Field beans curry / Birda

Dalimbi usal as it is called, does not have dalimb (pomegranate) in it, which for me as a kid was disappointing  to know. I detested the usal for a long time holding this grudge. This is also the only recipe on my blog that is posted despite me not liking it at all. Both males at home like this usal so it is made at home often. Also, this happens to be the original base for the famous mumbai misal pav until it got converted into multi sprout curry.
Coming to the recipe, I am posting this under the traditional recipes, using the style of my MIL. She does not add onions or garlic to her base, but I do to give it an extra thick base. More than the curry or usal,  it are her loving efforts that make it always click. She is extremely great at serving the food and making it more palatable by following simple basic rules. I will talk about her serving skills in detail some other time, for nowgo along




Ingredients
2 cups field beans/ vaal (also use any other sprouts) - Soaked and skinned
1 medium onion finely chopped
2-3 Kokum (Replace with 1 chopped tomato or juice of lemon if you dont have it)
1 tspn mustard seeds
1 tspn red chilli powder
1 tspn garam masala powder/ Use kolhapuri masala if you have
1/2 tspn turmeric powder
salt to taste
for the paste
1/2 cup fresh coconut
1 tbsp coriander
1 inch ginger
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 green chilly
for tempering
2 tspn oil
a pinch of asafotida/hing
Method
1) Wash the beans well. 
2)  Grind the ingredients for the paste and set aside
4) In another pan, heat oil, add the hing and mustard seeds. Let the seeds crackle.
5) Add the onions and saute it well. Add the kokum / tomatoes and saute as well
6) Add the ground paste and mix it well
7) Next add the washed beans , turmeric, chilli powder and water and cover the pan
8) Let it cook for 7-8 min.
9) Add the garam masala and stir well
10) Serve garnished with fresh coconut and coriander along with poli/roti/chapati or bread

Comments

Kalyani said…
thats a new way to serve the usal - with sev.. we like this lentil quite a bit, and I make a dry version..
Kalyani
Sizzling Tastebuds
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Pradnya....I like missal..but somehow cant have it as a complete meal..may be I am greedy want to eat all other Maharashtrien dishes!
Nilu A said…
Sounds lovely.. Will try them soon.. I'm a new blogger... Do visit my blog.. http://kitchenserenity.blogspot.in/
Priya Suresh said…
I started cooking moth beans only last year and love this beans,usal makes me drool..Healthy and hearty.
Chitz said…
Yummy dish !! Always loved lentils & usals.. And happy to be the new follower of ur wonderful space :)
sujitha said…
very healthy recipe..
Srivalli said…
Nice to read about your mil..I guess it's all the same with them right..whatever they make it ends up being so tasty!
Unknown said…
Sundal looks so yummy.
Lovely usal, Looks tempting..
Unknown said…
that is new to me... thanks for sharing the protein rich recipe..
Sowmya
Event - Celebrate - Summer
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Manju said…
Haven't tried matki before, when I first saw the picture though whole moong it's similar to sundal.
Archana said…
Hee! Pradnay when my elder SIL was getting married the grooms party wanted Dalimbye che usal. Then I hardly found my kitchen legs. and not wanting to sound a moraon I kept quite. Then like you I was seraching for pomegranate usal when we sat to eat. I asked my husband where is dalimbyache usal. :)

I am still ribbed for the dalmibye che usal.
Rajani S said…
The usal looks good to wash away any disappointments you have had with it :-). Looking forward to reading about your MIL's serving method :)
Pavani said…
What a delicious dish. We had this at a maharashtrian friend's house and loved it, now I can make it myself at home.
Unknown said…
I make this one too for the days when we are off rice and chapati. :)
Padmajha said…
Nice dish Pradnya and about ur MIL I think their years of experience in the kitchen counts and all what they prep turns out yum...
veena said…
Felt nice to read about your in law and as you say whatever they do just turns out perfect....This looks so nice...
Suma Gandlur said…
You know what I too was stumped by the title and was expecting a pomegranate salad or something. :)
Protein rich usal.
Anonymous said…
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Chef Mireille said…
kokum must give this usal a unique flavor

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