Chena Muthira Erissery

Muthira aka Kollu in Malayalam is horsegram in English. It is very nutrtious  and full of fibre.

Ingredients needed for Chena Muthira Erissery
1 cup muthira / horse gram
3 cups Water
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Salt  to taste

2 cups Chena / yam cut in to small cubes
1/2 tsp chilly powder
1 cup fresh Grated coconut
3 Green chilies
3 garlic flakes
a pinch cumin seeds

For tempering
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
3 red chilies, broken in to bits
few curry leaves
2 tbsps fresh grated coconut

How to prepare Chena Muthira Erissery?
Cook the horse gram in a pressure cooker adding 3 cups of water, turmeric powder and salt for about 4 whistles or until soft.
Open the pressure cooker when the pressure releases. Add the elephant yam pieces, 1/4 cup warm water, if needed and 1/2 tsp chilly powder. Cover and cook till yam gets soft.
Meanwhile grind grated coconut along with green chilies, garlic and cumin seeds to a fine paste.
Add this to the cooked horse gram and yam. Bring to a boil and cook for 4 – 5 minutes at low heat.
Add 1/2 cup hot water if you find the gravy very thick. Remove and keep aside.

For tempering Chena Muthira Erissery
Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in a small pan. Splutter mustard seeds and fry dried red chilies and curry leaves.
Add a handful of grated coconut. Stir-fry until coconut turns brown. Pour over the cooked erisseri.
Cover and keep aside for 10 minutes. Serve with rice, pappadam, pickle and a mezhukkupuratti.

Notes
You can also make this erissery with other dals like black eyed beans, red beans etc