Vegetable Usili

• any one of beetroot, green beans, banana flower, karamani, spinach, bell pepper, raw jackfruit, raw banana, okra(fry before adding), bitter melon, winter melon
• thoor dal 4 tbsp
• beetroot 2 cups grated
• salt 2 tsp
• red chilli powder 2 tsp
• cumin powder 1 tsp
• coriander powder 1 tsp
• oil 5 tbsp for seasoning
• mustard 1 tsp for seasoning
• aniseed 1/4 tsp for seasoning
• turmeric powder 1/2 tsp for seasoning

Soak the dal for about 1/2 hour. Grind it to a coarse paste with some water in a blender. Add about 1/2 tsp salt to this paste and mix it well. Peel and grate beetroots. In a frying pan, heat the oil and then add the seasonings. When mustard splutters add the ground dal. Cook the dal in the oil on a medium heat. Saute it for a minute or so and then cook it with lid closed. Do not add any water. Periodically open the lid and stir it well. It will take 5 minutes to cook the dal. Now add the grated beetroot, the remaining salt and fry it for a minute and thenadd the chilli powder, cumin powder and coriander\ powder. Mix well. Cook on a medium low heat for about 10 minutes.