Ava Pettina Thotakura Pulusu | Amaranth Leaves Stew with Mustard Paste
Ava Pettina Thotakura Pulusu is a traditional Andhra dish in which cooked Amaranth Leaves are flavoured with tamarind and a mustard paste. The result is a spicy, tangy stew that we eat with rice, or then serve as a side to Mudda Pappu Annam.
Equipment
- Heavy-bottomed vessel (750 ml litre capacity)
- Tempering Ladle
- Grinder
- Small Bowl
Ingredients
- 3 Cups - Finely Chopped Amaranth Leaves Thotakura, Chaulai, Maath
- 1/2 Cup - Bottle Gourd Cut into 1/2" pieces - 100 gms
- 2 tbsp - Thick Tamarind Paste
For the Mustard Paste
- 1.5 tsp - Mustard Seeds
- 1 tsp Rice
- 2 Red Chillies
For Tempering
- 1 tsp Oil
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 2 Red Chillies
Other Ingredients
- Salt to Taste
Instructions
To Make the Mustard Paste (Ava)
- In a small bowl, soak 1.5 tsp mustard seeds and 1 tsp raw rice in 4 tbsp water for about 1 hour.
- Grind the 1 or 2 red chillies, the soaked mustard seeds and rice with the water they were soaked to a smooth paste.
- Set aside.
To Make the Thotakura Pulusu
- Mix together 3 cups of finely chopped Amaranth leaves and 1/2 cup of 1/2" bottle gourd pieces.
- Add 1 cup water. You need just enough water to cover the mix.
- Pressure cook for 3 whistles.
- Let the pressure cooker cool and then take out the cooked amaranth and bottle gourd.
- Add 1/2 tsp turmeric, salt, and the ground mustard paste to the cooked mix.
- Mix well.
- Add a little water, if needed, and bring to a boil.
- Turn off the heat.
Adding the Tempering
- In a tempering ladle, heat 1 tsp oil.
- Add 1 tsp mustard seeds and wait till they splutter.
- Now, add 2 split red chillies and fry for a few seconds.
- Finally, add the tempering to the Ava Pettina Thotakura Pulusu and mix well.
- Serve warm Ava Pettina Thotakura Pulusu with hot rice or as a side dish to Mudda Pappu Annam.
Notes
If You Need to Make Tamarind Pulp
- Soak a 2" ball of tamarind in 1/4 cup warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Using your fingers, mash the tamarind well and then squeeze it to extract the pulp.
- Discard the tamarind.