Eriserry is a traditional South Indian dish from Kerala, made with a combination of vegetables and cooked lentils, usually seasoned with roasted coconut and spices. It’s a flavorful and nutritious dish that is often served during festive occasions. Here’s the recipe:
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes
Total Time: 40-45 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup pumpkin, cubed
- 1/2 cup raw plantain (green banana), cubed
- 1/2 cup yam, cubed
- 1/4 cup cowpeas (vanpayar), soaked and cooked
- 1/4 cup red gram (tuvar dal), cooked
- 1/2 cup grated coconut
- 2-3 dry red chilies
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- A pinch of turmeric powder
- A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
- A few curry leaves
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Cook Lentils: Pressure cook cowpeas and red gram (tuvar dal) until they are soft and tender. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Vegetables: Peel and cube pumpkin, raw plantain, and yam into small pieces.
- Prepare Coconut Paste: In a pan, roast grated coconut, dry red chilies, and cumin seeds until the coconut turns golden brown. Allow it to cool and then grind into a fine paste with a little water.
- Cook Vegetables: In a pan, cook the cubed pumpkin, raw plantain, and yam along with a little water and salt until they are soft and cooked.
- Add Cooked Lentils: Add the cooked cowpeas and red gram (tuvar dal) to the cooked vegetables.
- Add Coconut Paste: Add the prepared coconut paste to the pan and mix well with the vegetables and lentils.
- Add Turmeric and Asafoetida: Add turmeric powder and asafoetida (hing) to the mixture. Mix well.
- Simmer: Allow the mixture to simmer over low heat for a few minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Tempering: In a separate small pan, heat coconut oil. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add curry leaves and sauté for a minute.
- Add Tempering: Pour the tempered mixture over the eriserry and mix well.
- Garnish and Serve: Eriserry is typically served with rice. You can garnish it with a few curry leaves before serving.
Cook’s Tips:
- You can adjust the choice of vegetables based on availability and preference.
- The consistency of the dish can be adjusted by adding more or less water while cooking the vegetables.
- You can add a pinch of jaggery for a subtle sweetness.
Enjoy: Eriserry is a hearty and flavorful dish that can be enjoyed as a side dish with rice, especially during traditional Kerala feasts and celebrations.
