Thotakura stir-fry(Amaranth leaves stir-fry)

In Andhra,Amaranth leaves/thotakura is used in making dal's and palya's like thotakura pesarapappu podi kura and simple stir-fry.Amaranth leaves are considered to have more iron content than spinach and so I try include these greens in my regular diet.I like the crunchiness of onions in this stir fry as the greens are prior cooked and are mixed with the fried onions and tadka which makes a very nice combination with rice.Here comes the simple recipe of thotakura stir fry.

Ingredients:

1 big bunch of amaranth leaves(Thotakura/chauli)
1 big Onion,sliced
2 tbsp chana dal,soaked in water for 1/2 hr
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
a pinch of haldi
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp jeera
1 tsp split urad dal
1 red chili,broken
2 garlic pods,sliced and crushed slightly
a sprig of curry leaves
salt to taste
oil


Method:
Clean the amarnath leaves and wash them properly and soak it in salted water for 8-10 mins.Remove and drain to remove excess water(reserve this water for making dal).Chop the leaves finely along with tender stalks.In a vessel take 1 cup of water and boil it and add chana dal and cook for 5-6mins until soft.Add chopped amarnath leaves to it and continue cooking for 4-5 mins.Add a tsp of sugar while cooking greens which helps in retaining the color.Do not even cover it with lid,keep it open while cooking.Strain and squeeze the greens to remove excess water.Heat oil in a kadai crackle mustard seeds,jeera and fry urad dal,red chili,crushed garlic pods,curry leaves and then add onions and fry for few mins until onions turn pink and crisp(add a pinch of sugar while frying onions).Now add haldi,chana dal to it and fry for a minute.Add strained amarnath leaves to it and fry for a couple of mins.Add red chilli powder,coriander powder and enough salt to it and mix properly.cook for a couple of mins and remove from flame. Serve it with hot steaming rice,dal/rasam and papad.

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