Dal Puttu, a traditional breakfast made with mixed lentils, ground and steam cooked, tempered with mild spices. A protein-rich recipe.
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What is Puttu?
Puttu, a traditional breakfast in many south-indian homes. A popular dish in kerala, puttu and kadalai curry, is a match made in heaven. A pretty easy dish to make, if you have that puttu maker or else a simple bowl and a steamer would also do.
Puttu, traditionally made using rice flour, which is an easy to digest and also gluten-free. The steamed delicacy, can be made with millets and lentils. Check this foxtail millet/thinai arisi puttu here. It is much prefered dish like idiyappam/idly, while traveling as they are easily digestible and safe for the digestive system.
Puttu, though commonly popular in south state of India, there is also many similar dish in other parts of India. For example, Putharo, a traditional breakfast from Meghalaya, the North-eastern state of India. And Vellam Puttu, a similar dish made in Tamilnadu.
What is Dal Puttu?
Dal puttu, a protein powerhouse dish, entirely made with dal/lentils. The only time consuming act here is the soaking of dals. Once the dals are ready then it is a pretty easy dish to make. Dal puttu, can be served for breakfast or as evening snack with some hot chai/coffee.
How to make Dal Puttu?
Please check recipe card below for exact measurements of each ingredient used and also for the detailed instructions.
- Soak the mixed dals for minimum 2 hours. After the required time, drain the dal, take it in a mixer and grind it coarse, take care while grinding we dont want batter.
- After grinding, steam cook the mixture. I have used microwave here, it ca met be done in the steamer.
- Once the dal mix is steam cooked, heat a pan, add tempering with mustard and chilies. add the crumbled dal, adjust salt and add some fresh coconut. Let it sit on the stove for 4-5 minutes for the flavors to mingle. Remove and serve warm.
Dal Puttu |Steamed Lentil Crumble | Lets make puttu
Equipment
- Steamer or puttu maker (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp tuvar dal/split pigeon peas
- 1 tbsp chana dal/gram dal
- 1 tbsp moong dal /split green gram dal
- 1 tbsp masoor dal/red lentils
- 2 tbsp freshly grated coconut
Tempering
- 2 tsp oil any cooking oil
- ¼ tsp mustard seeds/kadugu
- 2-3 nos red chilies, broken
- 1 tsp urad dal, skinned black gram dal
- 1 tsp chana dal, gram dal
- 2-3 tsp broken cashew-nuts
- a pinch hing/asafoetida
- a pinch turmeric powder
- sprig of curry leaf
Instructions
- Take all the dals mentioned above in a bowl. Wash twice in water. Do not waste the dal-washed water, use it for watering the plants. Soak the mixed dal for an 2 hours, minimum. I usually have my breakfast by 10/10:30 so i soak it around 7:30 before leaving for my yoga class.
- Once it is soaked for the said time, drain the excess water, take the dal in a small mixer, pulse grind it to a coarse mixture.
- Take care while grinding, if you grind it continuously you will end up with dal batter, we don't want dal batter, we want coarsely ground dal mixture. So just pulse it. If you mixer doesn't budge, open and mix it once or twice with a spoon and pulse it again
- Once you get it coarse, remove it to a microwave safe shallow bowl. Microwave high for a minute and half. The excess moisture in the dal will evaporate and you will get dry mix, which can be crumbled.
- Another way to do this is to steam the mix. Take the coarsely ground dal in a idly plate, steam cook for 10-12 minutes to get steamed dal mix, which can be crumbled later. I prefer the MW as it takes less time and less vessels too!
- Once the dal is cooked, heat oil in a sauce pan, splutter mustard seeds, add hing, broken chilies, curry leaves let it saute for minute. Now add chana dal and urad dal and saute until it turns golden brown. Finally add cashew-nuts and saute until it changes color, take care not to burn it.
- Now to this add the crumbled dal mixture .Sauteit well. Keep the flame simmer, cover and cook for a minute or two. Remove the cover, add salt and coconut to this and mix well
- Let this be on the heat for 3-4 minutes. Remove and serve it hot along with coffee!
Serve this healthy dal puttu for breakfast or as snack, i enjoyed it with a hot cup of coffee for a blissful breakfast.
If you have tried this recipe and like it, give it a star rating or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #icampinmmykitchen and tagging me @priyasrinivasan.
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That is such a protein packed breakfast Priya. Looks absolutely delicious with coconut. It sounds so filling and hearty.
Thanks for the idea. Love this protein filled meal. I am happy I can make it without the puttu maker 🙂
Awesome ! Power packed with protein ! And those nuts must be giving it a great crunch! I think the steamed version sounds good to me , safer ! What do you say ?
Have seen this dal puttu long back in a TV show, till that day i was looking for a chance to make this dish, am yet to make them. Seriously am in love with this healthy protein rich puttu Priya.
I have always been a big fan of my chithi's sweet puttu, but this puttu with dal is very interesting priya !! Dal puttu looks fantastic !! and how wonderful the texture is .. That microwave version is fantastic !!Will try some day … The pictures have the perfect mood , so dreamy they are !!
This sounds similar to paruppu usli though we use only one or 2 varieties of dal. With the nuts and seasonings, this must be very delicious!
It looks like a cross between Sundal and usli! And I love the fact that it can be made for
One. I love such protein filled snack. Thanks for sharing priya. Will definitely try thia out
Lovely.. I usually try different versions of puttu but using dal is totally new.. Yummy share!!
Never thought about dal puttu. this is such an interesting recipe. Awesome Priya. Thanks for sharing. Bookmarking. 🙂
Wow, definitely it's a protein packed food, love the idea of using all the dal in one dish.With those tempering and the grated coconut, it must be delicious !!!
I usually hate to steam cook as there are so many vessels to be cleaned after. MW is the best choice for this type of cooking and to make our lives easier. This dal puttu sounds wonderful. Perfect to have on a rainy day with a cup of coffee..
Wow seriously awesome Priya, such a lovely dish to enjoy!.. I am so loving this..fantastic dish.
What a delight to see a savory puttu. I love the sweet puttu but have never made it myself. Love the lentil based puttu and this would be a great after school snack for kids.
I haven'e ever tried steamed dal puttu ever or to be frank I never got chance to try the classic rice puttu. May be one day I should try it, as it looks healthy and of course must be tasty too.
I haven't heard of this exciting breakfast dish but I've fallen in love it. Simple to make and so flavorful. Bookmarked it try it.
Thanks for sharing, Priya. This is super healthy, protein rich breakfast for sure.