Watercress Paruppu Kadaiyal

Watercress is an aquatic weed, can get them very easily in chinese stores, i tried it out as usual keerai kadaiyal...i really couldnt found out difference between our usual keerai kadaiyal n this dish with these watercress ...they are very rich in vitamin A n C...watercress r known as Cresson in French..These plants are members of the Family Brassicaceae or cabbage family, botanically related to garden cress and mustard — all noteworthy for a peppery, tangy flavour.The hollow stems of watercress are floating and the leaves are pinnately compound. Watercresses produce small white and green flowers in clusters.

1 bunch Water cress greens
3/4 cup Split moongdal
1 no Onion chopped roughly
1/2 no Tomato pieces chopped roughly
5 nos Garlic pods
2 nos Green chillies (slit open)
1tsp Vadagam r mustard seed n urad dal
2 nos Red chillies
Oil for tempering
Salt as per taste

Just remove the edges of the watercress stems n yellowish leaves n wash them thoroughly n keep aside. Heat 2 cups of water in a heavy bottomed pan, meanwhile wash thoroughly the moong dal n keep aside, add the washed moongdal to the hot water n cook for a while in medium flame, now add the roughly chopped onion followed by tomatoes, garlic pods n slit opened green chillies n close the lid n put the flame in simmer, after a while once the dal n veggies r well cooked add the well washed n roughly chopped watercress green n cook them for a while..

As the watercress contains enough water n the stems r hollow, they will get cooked very easily, check whether they r cooked n put off the stove..heat the oil in a pan , once the oil is hot..add the vadagam r mustard seeds n urad dal n let the splutters, add the red chillies n fry them well, add this to the well cooked greens as well as the salt n mash them with a food processor r with a hand blender, will be very much perfect with a masher( mathu) as i dont have, i used hand blender..

Serve hot with rice n ghee (optional)..Enjoyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!

On the way to Eat Healthy - During Pregnancy by Sangeeth..