Despite the facts that moringa trees are known to attract pests and they are so fragile that they can not withstand strong winds, they are grown in almost every house to enjoy the benefits of nutritious leaves, flowers & pods. Normally we don’t allow children to go near this tree as woolly caterpillars found on it may cause skin hives when contact with their strands. It is a common phenomenon that branches of drumstick trees break apart and fall down during windy or rainy season.
In such events loads of drumstick leaves & pods are available with us for consumption and we prepare moringa leaves curry & moringa mash utilizing those plentiful leaves & pods.
Drumstick leaves, flowers & pods are used for both culinary & medicinal purposes, you may refer the chart below for their nutrient values.
Moringa mash tastes delicious when served with paruppu & rasam as shown below or it may be stuffed inside dosa or sandwich.
Now lets look into the recipe for murungakkai thokku:
Yields: 1 cup (200 ml)
Ingredients:
- 7 drumstick pods
- 1 tsp of coconut oil
- ½ tsp of cumin seeds
- A sprig of curry leaves
- 1 onion
- ¼ tsp of turmeric powder
- 1 tsp of red chilli powder
- 1 tomato
- ¾ tsp of salt
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing
Mise en place:
- Wash drumstick pods and chop them into 3-4″ pieces.
- Steam them for 7 minutes & scrape the flesh out as shown below.
- Keep the seeds & pulp aside in a bowl.
- Chop onion & tomato finely and leave aside.
Cooking procedure:
- Heat a cooking pan with oil in medium flame.
- Add cumin seeds, chopped onion & curry leaves into the hot oil and saute until onion turn translucent.
- Add turmeric powder & chilli powder and fry for few seconds.
- Add chopped tomatoes & salt (¼ tsp) and saute until mushy.
- Add drumstick seeds & pulp followed by salt (½ tsp) and stir to combine.
- When the mixture is well amalgamated remove from heat.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
- Now murungakkai thokku is ready to serve.
Love drumstick flavour…tasty, healthy and so pleasing to palate too?
Beautifully presented by the way ❣️ lovely weekend Megala ?
Thank you so much!
I tried this version and it really has become a favourite! Thanks Megala.
And btw I recently showed a bit of your blogs to my mother … and she remarked, on how well presented your articles were, and sends you fond wishes for much more !
I’m so delighted to hear this, thank you so much. Please convey my special thanks to your mother. 🙂
What an interesting blogpost. I love that drumstick leaves, flowers and pods are used for both culinary & medicinal purposes. I really enjoy when you combine these two topics in one post.
I’m so glad to hear this, thanks a lot for reading my posts.
It’s always a pleasure to read you Megala. Lots of unique information.
All of us at home are big fans of drumsticks, my 4-year-old daughter included. I’ve never tried using drumsticks this way – it looks absolutely delicious. I’m so going to try this out. Have bookmarked your recipe. 🙂
I’m so glad, thank you! 🙂
We cook the drum sticks in split pea dhall. Very tasty.
Oh, nice, thanks Kavitha!
I just love it, interesting dish ??
Thanks!
Amazing! The nutrients are great!
I did a little research, and found that moringa contains very high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. great herbal medicine!
Yes, it is really a wonder herb. Thanks so much for sharing those inputs.
We had a moringa tree in our backyard and seeing your photo brought back memories. Love your idea of moringa mash!
Thank you! 🙂
I love drumstick. Never heared about this recipe..will try
Then you will like this as well. Thank you!