🌿 Karuveppilai Soup | Curry Leaves Soup

✨ “A wholesome, peppery soup where aromatic curry leaves meet protein-rich moong dal — soothing and healthy!”

🌿 Curry Leaves (Karuveppilai) are an inseparable part of South Indian cooking — not just for their aroma, but also for their incredible health benefits. Rich in antioxidants, iron, and vitamins, curry leaves aid digestion, improve hair and skin health, and help detoxify the body. Traditionally, they are seen as both a flavor enhancer and a natural medicine — which is why elders always say “Don’t throw away the curry leaves from your food!”

When used in this soup, curry leaves release their natural oils and blend beautifully with moong dal and pepper, creating a dish that’s both healing and delicious.

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🛒 Ingredients

• Curry leaves – 1½ cups
• Moong dal – ½ cup
• Onions – 2 medium, sliced
• Black pepper – 2 tsp
• Cumin seeds (jeera) – 1 tsp
• Bay leaf – 1
• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Ghee – 1 tbsp
• Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
• Asafoetida (hing) – a pinch
• Salt – to taste
• Jaggery or sugar – 1 tsp

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Base

   • In a pressure cooker, heat oil and ghee.
   • Add bay leaf, black pepper, and cumin seeds. Saute for a few seconds until aromatic.

2. Add Aromatics

   • Add sliced onions and saute until translucent.
   • Add ginger garlic paste and fry until the raw smell disappears.
   • Add curry leaves and saute for 2–3 minutes.

3. Cook the Dal

   • Add washed moong dal, turmeric powder, and sufficient water.
   • Mix well and pressure cook for 3 whistles.

4. Grind to Paste

   • Once pressure releases, strain and keep the water aside.
   • Let the curry leaves–dal mixture cool slightly, then grind it to a fine paste (with little or no water).

5. Make the Soup

   • Add the ground paste back to the reserved water.
   • Mix well and adjust water to soup consistency.
   • Add salt, jaggery/sugar, and let it boil on low flame for 2–3 minutes.

6. Serve

   • Serve hot as a starter or as a healing soup with rice meals.

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🌟 Tips

• Grinding with less water keeps the soup rich and creamy.
• Adjust pepper based on spice tolerance — more pepper makes it perfect for cold/flu relief.
• A squeeze of lemon before serving adds extra freshness.

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🍵 Health Benefits

• Curry leaves – Good for digestion, hair, and skin health.
• Black pepper – Improves metabolism and clears sinuses.
• Moong dal – Light, protein-rich, and easy to digest.

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👌 Karuveppilai (Curry Leaves) Soup is both tasty and medicinal — perfect for digestion and immunity!

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Video Tutorial