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Shepu bhaji (dill and moong dal)
Shepuchi bhaji (शेपूची भाजी): Maharashtrian dry dill greens cooked with soaked moong dal and garlic
In Pune and the villages of western Maharashtra, bunches of shepu (dill) come to market in winter, and this dry bhaji of dill and soaked yellow moong dal is packed with bhakri or chapati in the lunch dabba. The dill wilts down to a soft, aromatic tangle, and the moong dal gives it body and a little protein. The mistake is adding water: the leaves release plenty of their own, and extra liquid makes the bhaji stew and lose its fresh, sharp smell. Chef's tip: soak the moong dal for at least 30 minutes beforehand, so it cooks through in the dill's own steam without turning mushy.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
- 7 oz fresh dill (shepu)2 large bunches, thick stems removed, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp yellow moong dalsoaked in water 30 minutes, drained
- 1 ½ tbsp sunflower oil
- ½ tsp black mustard seeds
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 5 cloves garliccrushed
- 2 green chillieschopped
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp roasted peanuts (optional)coarsely crushed
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (3)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 1 ½ tbsp sunflower oil in a kadai over a medium heat. Add ½ tsp black mustard seeds and ½ tsp cumin seeds and let them crackle, then add 5 cloves garlic and 2 green chillies and stir until the garlic just turns golden, about 1 minute.
1 minStep 2: Add ¼ tsp ground turmeric and the drained 3 tbsp yellow moong dal and stir for 2 minutes.
2 minStep 3: Add 7 oz fresh dill (shepu) and ½ tsp salt and stir well. Cover and cook on a low heat for 6–8 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the dal is soft but whole when pressed between your fingers.
8 minStep 4: Uncover and cook for 2 minutes more until any liquid has dried and the bhaji looks dry and fluffy. Stir in 1 tbsp roasted peanuts if using.
2 minStep 5: Cool before packing with chapatis or bhakri.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does shepu bhaji (dill and moong dal) take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of black mustard seeds?
- Cumin seeds, same amount (different flavour, same crackle).
- What can I use instead of cumin seeds?
- Ground cumin, three quarters of the amount (add it with the other ground spices, not to hot oil first).
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