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    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Pappu Pulusu – Pappu Charu Andhra Style - Lunch Box Recipes

    Pappu Pulusu – Pappu Charu Andhra Style - Lunch Box Recipes

    Published: Nov 28, 2011 · Modified: Jul 23, 2021 by Srivalli · 24 Comments

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    Pappu Pulusu is yet another staple lentil-based stew from Andhra made using a tamarind base with vegetables. This is a thin dal made with vegetables that make a good side dish for Rice.

    Today's recipe is another method to make the famous Andhra way of making a lentil vegetable stew with a Tamarind base. Normally the Pappu Charu is not that sour but mildly made using tamarind, however, in this method, Amma makes use of a little more tamarind pulp that renders a little more hint of tamarind in the gravy.

    Pulusu is anything that's thin in texture and we normally use tamarind in the base. Some years back, Pappu Charu was the default Sunday night comfort meal. After the hectic lunch preparation, it was this mild simple comfort food.

    This is was my lunch when I had made a different menu for the family. I paired it with Hing and red chili powder seasoned potato chips. The other way of cooking arbi is the Baked Arbi.

    Another version of Charu you can make is this Inguva Charu. If you are interested in other varieties, try this Nellore Style Pappucharu.

    Pappu Charu with vegetables

    How to make Pappu Pulusu

    Wash and cook Arbi in a pan till done. Arbi can be cooked in a pan of water or in the microwave. Once cooled, peel skin and chop into rounds of 1" thickness.
    Chop drumstick into small pieces. Microwave for 5 -7 mins in microwave. Prep the snake gourd and wash well. Chop into small pieces. Snake gourd can be cooked in the gravy itself. Keep all the vegetables aside.

    Pressure cook toor dal till done with turmeric and few drops of oil. Keep it aside.
    Heat a pan with oil, add mustard, urad dal, curry leaves. When the mustard pops add the finely chopped onions. Saute till the onions turn colour. Add green chilies, red chilies. Saute for a couple of minutes.

    Pappu Pulusu

    Then add finely chopped tomatoes. Add salt, turmeric powder, simmer till the tomatoes turn soft. Then add the vegetables, saute in oil for a couple of minutes.
    Next add the red chili powder, followed by the tamarind pulp. Add 1 cup water and bring to boil. When it starts boiling, simmer and cook with lid covered for 15 mins.
    Serve with steaming rice and potato chips.

    Boiling Vegetables in Microwave
    Check out how to boil Drumstick, Arbi, Potatoes in Microwave.
    Another traditional recipe is this Pappu Charu Recipe

    Pappu Pulusu
    Print Pin

    Pappu Pulusu ~ Tamarind based lentil Stew with Vegetables

    Pappu Pulusu is yet another staple lentil-based stew from Andhra made using a tamarind base with vegetables. This is a thin dal made with vegetables that make a good side dish for Rice
    Course Lunch Box, Main Dish – Gravies
    Cuisine Andhra Pradesh
    Keyword Pappu Charu
    By Cook Method Pressure Cooker, Stovetop
    Occasion Lunch Box
    By Diet Healthy Recipes
    Dish Type Andhra Pappu
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Author Srivalli

    Ingredients

    For the Pulusu

    • 1 cup Toor Dal
    • 1 medium Onion
    • 1 medium Tomato
    • 1/2 tsp Red Chili Powder
    • 1 inch Tamarind lemon size
    • Salt to taste
    • 2 tsp Cooking Oil

    Vegetables used:

    • 1 Drumstick chopped into small pieces
    • 3-4 Arbi / Colocasia / Samagedda Chama dumpa
    • 1 small Snack Gourd / Potlakaya

    For Tempering

    • 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
    • 1/2 Urad Dal
    • A Sprig Curry leaves
    • 3 Green Chilies
    • 1 Dry Red Chilis

    Instructions

    How to make Pappu Pulusu

    • Wash and cook Arbi in a pan till done. Arbi can be cooked in a pan of water or the microwave. Once cooled, peel skin and chop into rounds of 1" thickness.
    • Chop drumstick into small pieces. Microwave for 5 -7 mins in microwave. Prep the snake gourd and wash well. Chop into small pieces. Snake gourd can be cooked in the gravy itself. Keep all the vegetables aside.
    • Pressure cook toor dal till done with turmeric and few drops of oil. Keep it aside.
    • Heat a pan with oil, add mustard, urad dal, curry leaves. When the mustard pops add the finely chopped onions. Saute till the onions turn colour. Add green chilies, red chilies. Saute for a couple of minutes.
    • Then add finely chopped tomatoes. Add salt, turmeric powder, simmer till the tomatoes turn soft. Then add the vegetables, saute in oil for a couple of minutes.
    • Next add the red chili powder, followed by the tamarind pulp. Add 1 cup water and bring to boil. When it starts boiling, simmer and cook with lid covered for 15 mins.
    • Serve with steaming rice and potato chips
    Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!
    « Mutter Paneer Recipe | Matar Paneer Recipe With Tomato Biryani Recipe
    Vazhakkai Roast Recipe, Paruppu Sambar | Lunch Box Recipes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hari Chandana says

      November 28, 2011 at 2:57 pm

      Very delicious and authentic recipe.. looks inviting 🙂

      Reply
    2. Pavani says

      November 28, 2011 at 12:45 pm

      That's exactly how we make at home and my plate looks exactly like that with the potato chips.. Tangy, spicy, crunchy--yummy..

      Reply
    3. vidhas says

      November 28, 2011 at 2:07 pm

      Good combination of vegetables in one shot.

      Reply
    4. sushma says

      November 28, 2011 at 3:56 pm

      Its been years that I made this Pappu charu...urs look perfect.

      Reply
    5. The Pumpkin Farm says

      November 28, 2011 at 4:42 pm

      new dish again for me, pack my lunch

      Reply
    6. veena krishnakumar says

      November 28, 2011 at 5:18 pm

      lovely combo!!!!!!!looks very comforting:-)

      Reply
    7. Shema George says

      November 28, 2011 at 11:29 pm

      looks very simple but extremely yummy!!
      First time here and I love your space, so following your blog 🙂

      Reply
    8. Vardhini says

      November 28, 2011 at 6:04 pm

      Inviting and comforting meal.

      Reply
    9. vaishali sabnani says

      November 28, 2011 at 6:28 pm

      this is new ..wats the diff between this n sambar?...the basic ingredients r the same..rt?

      Reply
    10. Priya says

      November 28, 2011 at 6:52 pm

      Super comforting pappu charu..

      Reply
    11. Angie's Recipes says

      November 28, 2011 at 8:12 pm

      The stew looks comforting and flavourful

      Reply
    12. divya says

      November 28, 2011 at 11:32 pm

      Looks super delicious and inviting..

      Reply
    13. Srivalli says

      November 29, 2011 at 1:22 am

      VaishaliIf you noticed I didn't use the sambar powder in this. Basically this is the difference. Sambar is littler thicker than this, while this ought to be on the lines of Rasam..:)..very slight changes but so much difference in taste.

      Reply
    14. Suma Gandlur says

      November 29, 2011 at 2:02 am

      My absolute favorite Valli. This is what I grew up eating each day, sans onions of course. We add a little jaggery too. My mother never made or makes sambhar. 🙂

      Reply
    15. Cool Lassi(e) says

      November 29, 2011 at 2:54 am

      Nice variety! I should give this Andhra style a try cause it certainly looks way simpler than the TN variety!

      Reply
    16. Kaveri says

      November 29, 2011 at 3:06 am

      Looks very yum!

      Reply
    17. Priya's Feast says

      November 29, 2011 at 5:33 am

      Wow..Pulusu luks very tempting..Thanks for sharing this recipe...

      Reply
    18. Gayathri Kumar says

      November 29, 2011 at 6:46 am

      Looks so inviting...

      Reply
    19. Gayathri Kumar says

      November 29, 2011 at 6:46 am

      Looks so inviting...

      Reply
    20. PJ says

      November 29, 2011 at 9:38 am

      Delicious platter Srivalli. Makes me hungry...

      Reply
    21. Rosa's Yummy Yums says

      November 29, 2011 at 11:25 am

      A marvelous stew! Great flavors and texture.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
    22. Nalini's Kitchen says

      November 29, 2011 at 4:17 pm

      yummy and comforting pappuchaaru.

      Reply
    23. Aarthi says

      November 29, 2011 at 4:46 pm

      awesome curry

      Reply
    24. Rajani says

      December 02, 2011 at 2:26 pm

      Looks really awesome, perfect answer for that 'what to cook today?!' question.

      Reply

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