This moringa leaves recipe is a typical south Indian style dry curry made with few ingredients and without any oil. Vegan, a healthy and nutritious curry goes well as side-dish with rice and dal or as an accompaniment with chapati, paratha.
As always, you will find the full ingredients list with measurements and detailed recipe instructions in a separate recipe box underneath the text section. To bypass the text section choose “SCROLL TO RECIPE” or “PRINT RECIPE” or click the “SCROLL TO VIDEO” option to watch the full video of this recipe. All options are located at the beginning of the post.
Moringa Oleifera tree is popularly known as drumstick tree in India which has been in existence for centuries. The leaves, young seed pods are largely used in Indian culinary preparations such as sambar, munagaku vepudu, murungai keerai poriyal, drumstick leaves soup, dal are few to name.
Recently it has gained huge popularity in western countries and it is being named a miracle tree. It is considered as a superfood because a cup of these leaves contains a great source of protein, calcium, iron, vitamins and all essential amino acids. It is a great way to incorporate essential nutrients into the diet.
This particular dish being totally oil-free is a great advantage for weight-watchers and for people on a healthy diet. Even though it is oil-less, it tastes absolutely delicious. Once you taste it you will be hooked and you end up making it frequently.
This dry drumstick leaves curry served with hot steamed rice, rasam and pachadi make an absolute comfort and healthy weekday meals.
Moringa Leaves recipe variations
I made this curry without onion and garlic. A couple of garlic cloves makes a good addition and adds an extra flavour. Pulse them in a blender along with peanut mixture.
Lime juice makes a great addition. Add a dash of it at the end and stir.
Freshly grated coconut adds a great nutty flavour to this dish.
Health Benefits of Moringa Leaves
- Reduce inflammations
- Help lower blood sugar
- Boost haemoglobin and iron levels
- Boosts immune system
- Has antifungal, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE Drumstick leaves curry
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Ingredients
Moringa Leaves: Fresh young leaves tastes good for this recipe. You can use frozen leaves too but make sure to thaw properly before you use them.
To Blend: Dry red chillies, peanuts and cumin. I've used blanched raw peanuts and not so hot dry red chillies. Feel free to use any variety of peanuts and red chillies. However, ensure to adjust chillies to suit your spice preference.
Instructions
Wash moringa leaves with water and keep it aside.
In a small pan, first, dry roast peanuts and keep them in a plate.
In the same pan, dry roast red chillies for a minute, then turn off the heat and roast cumin for a few seconds.
Blend peanuts, chillies and cumin in a spice blender to a coarse powder.
In a deep skillet, combine drumstick leaves, salt and water.
Cook on medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until drumstick leaves are tender and water is completely absorbed. Keep stirring.
Turn off the heat, add 2 teaspoon ground peanut-red chilli powder.
Stir until well combined.
Serve healthy and tasty drumstick leaves curry with chapatti or rice and dal.
Tips & Tricks
Do not add too much water to cook moringa leaves. Overcooking turns moringa leaves bitter.
To avoid overcooking, keep a glass of hot water aside. Just in case if more water is necessary, add a couple of tablespoons of water at a time whenever it is required while cooking.
Stir often to ensure even cooking.
Ensure to turn the heat off before you add cumin to prevent over roasting. The heat on the pan is just enough to roast cumin.
Notes
Although moringa leaves possess a wide range of health benefits, do not consume
Young leaves taste best for this recipe. If at all you plan to use mature leaves, make sure you cook them well and properly as they are somewhat difficult to digest especially for kids.
Discard all the stems that are inedible and wash these leaves 2-3 times in plenty of water to get rid of dust.
Water required to cook moringa leaves may vary depending on how young the moringa leaves are. Young leaves require less water and mature leaves need more water to cook.
I've used blanched raw peanuts. You may use any variety of peanuts.
Use peanut coarse powder as much as you want to suit your taste preference and store the rest in an air-tight container. I use it in most of the stir-fries and Kohlrabi curry.
More side-dish recipes
Oil-Free Moringa Leaves Curry
Video
Ingredients
1 cup = 250ml ; 1 tablespoon =15ml
- 2.5 cups (85 gms) Moringa Leaves
- ¼-1/3 cup Water
- 2 Red Chillies
- ¼ cup (40 gms) Peanut
- ¼ teaspoon Cumin
- as required Salt
Instructions
- Wash moringa leaves with water and keep it aside.
- In a small pan, dry roast peanuts on low heat for 3-4 minutes or until they start to turn golden brown and release nutty aroma.
- Transfer them to a plate.
- Now in the same pan, dry roast red chillieson low heat for a minute or until it release pungent aroma.
- Turn the heat off, add cumin seeds and roast for few seconds.
- Transfer them to a plate and let them cool down.
- Blend it in a spice blender to a coarse powder.
- In a deep skillet, combine drumstick leaves, salt and water.
- Cook on medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until drumstick leaves are well cooked and water is completely absorbed. Keep stirring.
- Turn off the heat, add 2-3 teaspoon ground peanut-red chilli powder.
- Stir until well combined.
- Serve healthy and tasty moringa dry curry with chapati or rice and dal.
Notes
Tips & Tricks
Do not add too much water to cook moringa leaves. Overcooking turns moringa leaves bitter. To avoid overcooking, keep a glass of hot water aside. Just in case if more water is necessary, add a couple of tablespoons of water at a time whenever it is required while cooking. Keep stirring to ensure even cooking. ** Nutritional information provided here are estimated and for guidance only. Please refer my Recipe Disclaimer for more details.Nutrition
This recipe is a part of A to Z challenge, a challenge initiated by super active bloggers Jolly Makkar and Vidya Narayan on Facebook Group, wherein a group of bloggers come together and we choose key ingredients alphabetically to cook and post a dish every month. This month challenge is to make a dish with an ingredient name starting with letter 'M' so I choose Moringa Leaves as a star ingredient.
More related recipes
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- Kohlrabi Curry
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- Bombay Chutney
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- Bhindi Do Pyaza
KEEP IN TOUCH
Do let me know if you make this simple and healthy drumstick leaves curry. I love to get feedback from readers.
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Swati
Such a nutirotus dish and love that it is a no oil recipe. I have read so much about moringa leaves but never used in cooking.. will surely try this way whenever I get these in stores here.
Geetha Priyanka
Sure do try and let me know how you liked it.
sasmita
You know these leaves are my top most fav leafy vegetable. We Odias also make this kind of dry dish using the moringa leaves. But we add leaves directly don't boil it. Also, we don't add peanuts. Your version looks a different one and that too no oil is a lovely idea!
Geetha Priyanka
Odia version sounds good Sasmita, as this recipe doesn't use the oil we have to boil leaves to cook and to eliminate raw aroma. Do try this version I'm sure you will like it.
Poonam Bachhav
Moringa leaves curry with my favorite peanut powder ! Yummm..best part it is oil free and super nutritious. Going to try out this curry as soon as I get hold of some moringa leaves here.
Geetha Priyanka
I'm so pleased to know you like this recipe Poonam. Yes, do try and let me know how it turned out.
Kalyani
the nuttiness of the peanuts + its an oil-free recipe makes it very attractive for me , I am trying this the next time I get moringa leaves..
Geetha Priyanka
Yes Kalyani, this indeed is a very delicious dish even without oil. Do try I'm sure you'll like it.
Seema Sriram
Wow, Zero oil moringa leaf poriyal and the colour looks brilliant. I am happy to see this as this is what we grew up with every day.
Geetha Priyanka
Thanks, Seema. Even I remember moringa being a part of our regular meals during my childhood days and I really missed this healthy leaf for so many years as I couldn't get it here in the UK until recently. I don't mind to make an extra shopping trip just to get them nowadays.
Vidya Narayan
I loved the addition of peanuts in the recipe. We usually only add grated coconut (poriyal style) at home and just because I adore Murungai Keerai in all forms, I am trying this recipe for sure. Simple side dish with dal rice or chapati. Not to forget, healthy above all!
Geetha Priyanka
I agree with you Vidya, moringa leaves in any form is my favourite too. Let me know how you liked it when you get to make it.
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth
I am quite intrigued how flavorful this side dish must have tasted! All the ingredients would definitely make up for the lack of oil... Looks like an amazing way of having this super food...
Geetha Priyanka
This indeed is a great way to up health benefits of moringa leaves and yes you'll definitely don't feel it less tasty as it is oilless. I would rather say you'll be surprised how tasty it is even without oil!
Aruna
I am loving this steamed vegetable. The peanuts must add a lovely nuttiness to it.The protein + iron + other nutrients make this a must-have in a menu.
Geetha Priyanka
Thanks Aruna.
Mayuri Patel
This recipe is definitely a must try as its so simple and the best way to enjoy the full health benefits of moringa leaves. I would definitely add garlic to it. Will just have to try and get loads of the fresh young leaves.
Geetha Priyanka
Garlic definitely adds a lovely taste and flavour and I'm sure you'll love it Mayuriji. I would love to know your opinion when you get to try it.
Sujata Roy
What a brilliant way to add moringa leaves in diet. Loved how you made it oil free. Ground peanut, cumin and red chilli definitely made it flavorful and delicious. Always made drumsticks and moringa flowers but never tried leaves. This is a keeper recipe. I will try it for sure.
Geetha Priyanka
Thanks, Sujataji. Do try and let me know how it turned out.
The Girl Next Door
What a wonderful way to use the very nutritious moringa leaves! Sounds so very flavourful and is zero oil as well. I have always used moringa leaves in South Indian preparations, and this is very new to me. Would love to try out your recipe some time.
Geetha Priyanka
Thanks and let me know how you liked it when you get to try it.