Mayalu bhaji ( Malabar Spinach vegetable )

 

Known as Mayalu in marathi or Malabar spinach in english this is a very tasty leafy vegetable .... 

In konkani we call it vaali bhaji and we make it using coconut oil and fresh coconut .

It tastes amazing with rice as well as rotis . 

It can also be made using dry prawns . 

But today I have made a veg version which is equally yummy and relished by all .... 

Ingredients:

1 bunch - Mayalu bhaji 
1/2 cup - cooked tuvar daal 

1 cup - fresh grated coconut 

1 tsp - karwari sambar masala ( or 1 tbsp coriander seeds + 1/4 tsp pepper ) 

5/6 - dry chillies ( preferrably use the byedgi variety ) 

3-4 dry kokum (amsula)

1 tsp - grated jaggery 

1/2 tsp - turmeric powder 

1 - onion chopped 

5/6 - garlic flakes (chopped or crushed )

2/3 tbsp - coconut oil 

salt as per taste 

Method

Clean the mayalu vegetable and separate the leaves and tender stems . ( tender stems are also used in another equally yummy preparation called vaali sasav ) .

Now chop the leaves and stems . 

Wash the tuvar daal and cook it in about 1 cup water in a pressure cooker till soft.  

Grind the grated coconut , haldi pd , chillies , sambar masala or coriander seeds and pepper .

The paste should be slightly coarse and not very fine . 

Now in a kadhai add chopped vaali bhaji , cooked tuvar daal , kokam and chopped onions and little water . 

Cook till the onions becomes soft and transparent . 

Add to it the ground masala , jaggery salt and cook for 5 minutes . 

Now heat some coconut oil in a separate tempering pan aand when the il becomes hot add to it crushed garlic and saute till the garlic turns golden brown . 

Pour this tadka to the prepared bhaji . 

Mix everything well and serve the bhaji hot with chapati or rice .