Winter is here and so are the green vegetables! The chilly season brings us the gift of nature’s best produce which is not just healthy but also delicious. Be it spinach, fenugreek leaves, mustard greens, cabbage, etc., the dishes prepared with these vegetables make our winter memorable and wholesome. One of the lesser-known green leafy vegetables, Shepu, is also an amazing ingredient when you want to switch from the traditional offerings of this season. The distinct and unique taste of this vegetable adds a herby, tangy and slightly sweet taste to the dish. If you are intrigued by this vegetable, then we have a simple recipe for you. Try this Shepu dal recipe today and add the goodness of dill to your everyday life!
Also Read: Dill: Why This Herb Needs to be on Your Grocery List
Is Eating Shepu Dal Healthy?
Yes! Shepu or dill leaves are packed with immense health benefits, which is why you should incorporate them into your diet. As per WebMD, Shepu is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium and iron which can help in the smooth functioning of your body. It may also help treat Type 2 diabetes and help support heart health. Dill can also help you have a happy digestive system.
Can You Prepare Other Dishes With Shepu?
Yes! Shepu is a versatile green vegetable that can used to prepare several dishes. With dill leaves, you can make Shepu Bhaji, Shepu Parantha, Shepu Pulao, Shepu Raita, Shepu Pakoras, Shepu Thepla, Shepu Kadhi, and whatnot! This leafy vegetable adds a distinct flavour to your dishes!
How To Make Shepu Dal: Recipe To Make Shepu Dal At Home
Rinse the toor dal and soak it in water for about 30 minutes. Take a pressure cooker and add the soaked dal along with salt, turmeric and water. Cook it for 4-5 whistles or until the dal is mushy. Then set it aside. Take a pan and add oil/ghee. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Let them splutter. Now add chopped onions, ginger garlic paste and green chillies and saute them until golden brown.
Now add chopped tomatoes along with other spices – turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala, coriander powder. Mix well. Add the chopped shepu and cover the lid of the pan so that the tomatoes are nice and mushy.
After the shepu leaves are soft and have reduced in size, slow down the burner. Now add the cooked toor dal to the masala mixture. At this point, you can adjust the consistency of the dal. Add more water and spices accordingly. Bring the dal to a boil and keep stirring so all the ingredients are well combined. Cook it for 8-10 minutes.
In the meantime, take a small pan and add a dollop of ghee to it. Now add cumin seeds, red chilli powder and a pinch of hing in it. Once it starts to sputter pour this tempering over dal. Mix well so that all the ingredients are combined. Garnish it with coriander leaves and voila! Your Shepu dal is ready to serve!
Read the full recipe here.
Bonus Tip:
You can serve this wholesome dal with hot, steaming roti or rice. To add a bit of tanginess, squeeze in a lemon and add ginger slivers on top of it to enhance your Shepu dal’s taste!
Also Read: Unique Kadhi Recipe That Is Rich In Calcium Too – Try Gujarati Suva Kadhi!