Drumstick Cashew Nut Masala [Munakkaya Jeedipappu Masala] : Side Dish

Today I am sharing another simple side dish that would go well with rice. This is a rich and thus a very filling dish because of the presence of cashews - one of my favorite ingredient in my curries. Cashews give a different flavor to the curry and it makes the dish finger licking good. Its richness makes it an amazing dish even for kids. I had too many drumsticks with me and drumstick sambhar was boring so for a change I tried this and it was a super hit in my kitchen !

Drumstick Cashew Nut Gravy

Ingredients

• Drumstick -1 
• Onion [finely chopped] - 2 to 3
• Cashews - 10 to 15
• Green Chilly [slit length wise] - 2
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Mustard - 1 tsp
• Urad Dhal - 1 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Chilli Powder - 1 tbsp
• Coriander Powder - 1 tbsp
• Sambhar Powder - 1 tbsp
• Salt - To taste 
• Water - 2 cups
• Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
• Coriander [finely chopped] - To garnish

Cooking Method

• Soak the cashews in water for 10 mins and grind it in to a fine paste. 
• Take oil in a pan. Once the oil gets heated up add mustard. Once mustard splutters add urad dhal, curry leaves and slit green chillies.
• Add the chopped onions and fry them until the raw smell goes. Now add the drumstick and stir it for a while.
• Add turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder, sambhar powder, salt and give it a stir.
• Add the cashew paste to the mixture along with a cup of water.
• Now close it with a lid and let the drumstick cook with the cashew paste and masala. 
• After the drumstick is cooked [5-10 mins] and the curry thickens, switch off the stove and garnish the dish with coriander leaves and cashews.

Total Preparation Time - 20 mins

Serves - 2 to 3

Tips

• You can even make the cashew paste coarse if you like the nutty feeling in the masala. I prefer it to be a fine paste and thus made it in to a fine paste.
• Sambhar powder is another favorite ingredient in all the south indian dishes I make. It gives amazing flavor to the dish. You can replace this with coriander powder too.
• You can try the same dish with Brinjal / Egg Plant instead of Drumsticks.

If you make the curry too thick [let it cook for 5 more mins] then it would go well with rotis and dosas too. I have made this masala more watery and hence I loved it with rice.

♥ Aarthi ♥