Kurumilagu (Fresh Green Peppercorns) Dal

          Kurumilagu or Fresh Green Peppercorns, this is not available everywhere, but when I get them I do this dal with it. When we went to Coorg, I came to know that pepper, cardamom and vanilla beans are grown along with the coffee plants. When we were shown around the coffee estate, I saw these pepper plants and the green peppercorns in them. The guide plucked me some and I brought them with me to Bangalore. This is a very simple dal, I have used tuvar dal/ split pigeon peas and flavored the dal with some garlic and the green peppercorns and it goes well with both rice as well as rotis..

Need To Have

• Tuvar Dal/ Split Pigeon Peas - 1/4 cup
• Fresh Green Peppercorns - 2 tablespoons
• Tomato - 1 big, chopped
• Garlic - 5 cloves
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Mustard Seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
• Cumin Seeds - 1/4 teaspoon
• Curry Leaves - 5 to 10
• Salt to taste

Method

          Remove the peppercorns and wash them well.

          Pressure cook the tuvar dal along with the tomatoes, garlic and turmeric powder. In the same container, place the peppercorns in a small bowl and pressure cook it too. Mash the cooked peppercorns and the cooked dal mixture.

          Heat some oil, add the mustard and cumin seeds, when it starts spluttering, add the curry leaves, mix and remove. Add it along with some salt and the mashed pepper to the dal and mix well.

Note
I have cooked the pepper separately and not with the dal/ lentils, otherwise it's difficult to mash the pepper.
We can replace the tomatoes with tamarind, but I like this better.