Cabbage Pesara Pappu
A light Andhra-style moong dal made with tender cabbage, green chili, and a simple tempering. It cooks up soft, comforting, and gently spiced, making it a lovely everyday dish to pair with rice or roti.
For 4 servings
- prep · ~10 min
Wash the dal and prep the vegetables.
1.Rinse the moong dal 2 to 3 times until the water runs mostly clear.2.Finely shred the cabbage.3.Chop the onion and tomato, slit the green chilies, and lightly crush the garlic. - pressure cook · ~15 min
Pressure cook the dal and cabbage.
1.Add moong dal, cabbage, tomato, green chili, turmeric powder, salt, and water to a pressure cooker.2.Mix once and close the lid.3.Cook on medium heat for 2 whistles, then let the pressure release naturally.TIPDo not overcook the cabbage. Two whistles are enough for soft dal and tender cabbage without turning it mushy. - mix · ~2 min
Mash the cooked dal lightly.
Open the cooker and mash the dal gently with the back of a ladle. Keep the texture soft but not completely smooth. Add a splash of water if it looks too thick.
- temper · ~5 min
Make the tempering.
1.Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat.2.Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.3.Add cumin seeds, dried red chili, garlic, and curry leaves.4.Cook for 20 to 30 seconds until fragrant, then add the onion and cook until lightly soft.TIPKeep the heat medium so the garlic and dried chili flavor the oil without burning. - mix · ~2 min
Combine the tempering with the dal.
Pour the hot tempering over the cooked cabbage dal and mix well. Stir in the lemon juice and let the flavors settle for 1 to 2 minutes.
- garnish
Garnish with coriander leaves.
- serve
Serve hot with rice or roti.
What to keep in mind.
6 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1Shred the cabbage finely so it cooks in the same time as the moong dal and blends into the soft texture.
- 2Stick to 2 whistles on medium heat; extra cooking can dull the cabbage and turn the dal pasty.
- 3Mash the cooked dal only lightly so you keep some lentil texture instead of a baby-food consistency.
- 4Add lemon juice only after the tempering is mixed in and the heat is off, so the dal stays bright and fresh-tasting.
- 5Let the mustard seeds fully splutter before adding cumin and garlic, or the tempering will taste raw.
- 6If reheating leftovers, loosen with a little hot water first because moong dal thickens noticeably as it sits.
Adapt it for your goals.
Jain
Skip onion and garlic in the tempering; rely on extra cumin, curry leaves, and a little more lemon for a clean, simple finish.
veganVegan
This dish is already vegan as written, making it an easy plant-based dal for rice or roti.
no onionNo-onion
Omit the onion for a lighter everyday version with a slightly cleaner cabbage-and-moong flavor.
spicierSpicier
Add one extra green chili while pressure cooking or more broken red chili in the tempering for a sharper Andhra-style heat.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Plant Protein from Moong Dal
Moong dal adds satisfying plant protein and makes this simple meal more filling when served with rice or roti.
Vegetable-Rich Comfort Dish
Cabbage, tomato, green chili, and coriander bring fiber, freshness, and everyday vegetable goodness to the dal.
Moderate and Light Cooking Style
The recipe uses a small amount of oil and gets most of its flavor from tempering, chilies, garlic, and curry leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Simmer the moong dal, cabbage, tomato, chilies, turmeric, salt, and water in a pot until the dal is soft and the cabbage is tender, then proceed with the tempering.
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