Green Gram Curry {Kerala Cherupayar Curry}
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Recipe type: Main,Entree
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
A delicious and wholesome South Indian curry made with healthy green gram or mung beans makes an excellent choice for rice, rotis and such.
You will need:
  • Oil - 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds - ½ tsp
  • Cumin seeds - ½ tsp
  • Curry leaves - 6-8
  • Whole dried red chilies - 2
  • Asafoetida (hing) - a pinch
  • Onion - 1 small, finely chopped
  • Ginger - 2 tsp, grated or finely chopped
  • Garlic - 1 clove, minced
  • Green chilies - 2
  • Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
  • Red chili powder - ½ tsp
  • Coriander powder - 1 tsp
  • Garam masala powder - a fat pinch
  • Tomato - 1 large, chopped
  • Green gram (mung beans or cherupayar) - 1 cup, washed and soaked in water till needed in the recipe
  • Milk - ½ - ¾ cup
  • Salt - to taste
  • Cilantro leaves - to garnish
How to:
  1. Heat oil in a large pot or pressure cooker. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves and red chilies.
  2. When the seeds sputter, add a pinch of asafoetida, chopped onion, ginger, garlic and green chilies. Saute till onions are lightly browned.
  3. Now add the masala powders and mix well. Add the chopped tomato and cook till mushy.
  4. Add the green gram (mung beans) and enough water to just cover them. Add ½ tsp salt, cover and cook till beans are soft. If using a pressure cooker, cook for 2 whistles, remove from heat and allow the pressure to be released naturally.
  5. Open the lid and add milk. Simmer gently till milk is heated through and curry is reduced to your liking. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve hot with steamed rice, rotis or idiyappams.
Notes:
1. Green gram or mung beans cooks easily than garbanzo beans , red beans, etc. According to where they are grown, some varieties do not need much soaking at all. But you can soak them for a small amount, while you are prepping the ingredients and making the masala. In fact, over-soaking them might leach vital nutrients and the vibrant green color.
2. Some recipes boil green gram separately and add to the masala. But I have found no reason to do so.
3. If you do not wish to use milk, feel free to use thick coconut milk in place of regular milk.
4. If you want to use freshly ground coconut, add the ground coconut along with the spice powders and saute well till coconut is cooked and fragrant. Then proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Recipe by At The Corner of Happy And Harried at https://www.happyandharried.com/2016/01/05/green-gram-curry-kerala-cherupayar-curry/