“Mullangi Palleche Mooga Dali Usli Grilled Sandwich/ Radish Leaves Green Gram Dal Bhaji Grilled Sandwich” served with a tomato ketchup (store bought) and Ginger Tea (Adraki Chai) … Mooga dali usli is a common dry bhaji from Konkani Saraswat Cuisine to which I added on fresh tender radish leaves and made it healthier … You can relish this as it is or serve it with chapatti, poori, parathas or fried bread slice … I always make it into a bread sandwich which tastes scrumptious, tummy filling and is loved very much in my home …
** Radish leaves are extremely beneficial to health and if you are chucking them out then think again before doing so. I add them while preparing chutney, dal, bhaji, roti, salad, vadas/ dangar etc; the list is endless. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals, good for detoxification and above all they boost immune system which is the necessity of the day. There are many more nutrient levels which I will not run into, you can just ask Google Mamu and he will tell you all. I always cringe when I see people purchase mooli but ask the vendor to remove the leaves, to his surprise I always give him a little bit more money and ask him to give me those leaves which otherwise is wasted.
** Tender leaves bhaji with addition of onions and garlic tastes wonderful, so does prepared with inclusion of certain veggies. But the best of all are parathas and our very own danger/ fritters that tastes the best of all. Today I added them on while preparing mooga dali usli, and then turned them on as sandwich fillings, a childhood habit. I prepare it in grilled sandwich toaster and it was really fantastic in taste served with a dash of ketchup. Totally healthy tummy filling breakfast snack that can be relished for breakfast or evening tiffin. A great way of making children relish our own traditional dishes yet keeping in mind their preferences too, sort of two in one where both mother and child are happy.
** Mooga dali usli or Green Gram Dal bhaji is a common dish in Konkani Saraswat community prepared for breakfast in combo with each ones preference. While some have it as it is too with some steamed nendrabale kele/ banana for breakfast, some prefer with roti/ chapatti/ hot puffed poories etc. This dish is often served even during auspicious functions like Ram Navami or other festive days too in temples or at home, though the same is not usually prepared during marriages or other functions. Well, each home has their own method of preparing it, the way they like, some add grated ginger while some prefer hing and they are some who add on both and all of them taste wonderful.
** I have always relished usli from childhood with fried bread slices or with poori and I love both combos. Serving with bread slices is easier especially if it is to be a home affair while poor is preferred in case of guests. Grilling bread slices/ sandwiches came much later with the introduction of electric grill toaster. I remember the same was brought from Mumbai as in Mangalore it was not available when it first came into market. Well that was decades back and now they are available almost everywhere. I love preparing mooga dali usli as filling for grilled sandwiches and this time since I had fresh radish leaves thought of adding the same as a trial and it tasted really wonderful.
** Here is my recipe for “Mullangi Palleche Mooga Dali Usli Grilled Sandwich/ Radish Leaves Green Gram Dal Bhaji Grilled Sandwich” … My very own Style …
** Wash and finely chop about 2 cups of fresh tender radish leaves. Put it in a colander to drain and then in a thick bottomed kadai add the same and cook covered on low heat sprinkling water if necessary and stirring a few times. You can also put it into a glassware dish and microwave for 2-3 minutes like I did, I always put my MW oven to best use to cut down time and tedious works. Add a pinch of salt, mix well, remove and keep it aside ready.
** Wash one cup of moong dal/ green gram dal well in plenty of water. Strain well in a colander and keep it ready aside. Keep 2 cups of water to boil separately while we proceed with the preparation of the usli, let it simmer aside.
** Heat 2 tblsps of ghee/ oil in a thick bottomed kadai, I have used ghee. When melted and hot, lower the heat, add 1 tsp of mustard seeds (rai/ sasam), when they begin to splutter add 5-6 green chillies (tarni mirsanga/ hari mirchi) slit lengthwise or cut to small pieces, 1 tsp hing (asafoetida) powder and 7-8 curry leaves (karbevu/ kadipatta). Fry for a second and then add in the strained moong dal and mix well.
** Fry all ingredients well on low heat for 2 minutes as it turns the moong dal well cooked to remain slightly separate, sprinkle water a little bit if necessary if you find that the dal is getting stuck to the bottom. Add 1.5 cups of boiling water and keep ½ cup aside to add on later if necessary only. Mix well, add salt (namak/ meeta) to taste and mix well, bring to boil, then lower the heat to minimum, cover and let cook.
** Check it out in between for water consistency and add some boiling water kept aside if needed. Cover the kadai with a fitting lid and let cook covered till 85-90 % done. Add in ¼ cup of freshly grated coconut (soyi/ nariyal), the cooked and kept aside radish leaves and mix well. Cover and cook until done, remove and keep it covered aside for 5 minutes to cool a bit.
** “Mullangi Palleche Mooga Dali Usli/ Radish Leaves Green Gram Dal Bhaji” is done and ready to be served. You can serve it hot as it is or with any accompaniment of your choice like chapatti/ poori/ roti/ bread slices etc. as it tastes great with it. A very healthy dish as moong dal is one of the best dal, high on protein with other health nutrients included in it and addition of radish leaves increases its nutrient levesl.
** To prepare “Mullangi Palleche Mooga Dali Usli Grilled Sandwich/ Radish Leaves Green Gram Dal Bhaji Grilled Sandwich” you will need a grilled sandwich toaster. Just go ahead and prepare it the same way as you would have prepared other grilled sandwiches. You can also try it on the sandwich maker on gas if you have that, I used the electric one.
** I tava fried the bread slices on one side only without adding any ghee or so, you may if desired but it is not required. Then place the fried sides upward and spread the prepared moong dal radish leaves bhaji in a thick layer and then place another bread on top taking care to see that the fried side is within. Apply a little bit ghee or butter on both the outer sides of the sandwich and grill it till crisp and done in a toaster.
** “Mullangi Palleche Mooga Dali Usli Grilled Sandwich/ Radish Leaves Green Gram Dal Bhaji Grilled Sandwich” is done and ready to be served. Tastes best served with tomato ketchup as almost everybody loves it but then if desired you can serve it with coriander-pudina chutney too as it tastes lovely though you can serve with any coconut chutney, as some prefer chutney for sandwiches, in my home we prefer ketchup, so I served with the same and it was superb.
** Always try out dishes with twists to keep your family happy. Try these sandwiches young children will have them without a murmur unlike when given plain mooga dali usli. They are always reluctant to eat what is good for health, so a little bit of twists help in luring them. Do add radish leaves to dishes in different forms into your diet and reap in its benefits as and when possible. We need to build a stronger coming generation without falling into the traps of instant packaged store bought foods.
** You can check out the traditional method of preparing “Mooga Dali Usli” following the link given below …
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