Basale Soppu Saaru / Malabar Spinach Curry - Divide and Devour

" It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician." ~Meryl Streep


From the time I took up this Divide and Devour feature, and started with Karnataka, I have got to know so many things. The most important being where each district goes. The only thing I earlier knew was where Bangalore was.

Now, time to share the lessons with you. An understanding of these regions is crucial to understanding their food culture.
The districts fall under the below regions.

Bayalu Seeme Region :

Bayalu Seeme is largely open plain, with few hillocks. The cuisine reflects the primary occupation in that region. Agriculture is the major source of income. The fresh produce calls for healthy eating options. Beans, Cereals and different varieties of flour are a constant in a day's meal.


It includes the districts of
1. Dharwad
2. Belgaum
3. Gadag
4. Haveri
5. Bijapur
6. Bagalkot
7. Gulbarga
8. Yadgir
9. Raichur
10. Koppal
11. Bellary,
12. Chitradurga
13. Davangere
14. Tumkur
15. Hassan
16. Mandya.

Malenadu Region :

Malenadu (literaly translated means "Land of Hills") covers the western and eastern slopes of the Western Ghats or Sahyadri mountain range, roughly 100 kilometers in width.

Malenadu covers portions of
1. Belgaum
2. Chikkamagaluru
3. Shimoga
4. Uttara Kannada
5. Kodagu
6. Hassan

Malnad cuisine is generally referred to as a combination of Coorgi and Mangalorean cuisine. But many think that the cuisine here is distinct in its own way. The fertility of the land translates to a surprising array of vegetables and fruits.

Karavalli / Kanara / Canara Region

The kanara or canara region which is also known as Coastal Karnataka comprises three coastal districts of Karnataka, namely Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada and Kasaragod of Kerala in southwestern India.  Being coastal districts, sea food forms a major part of the diet.

The Kanara / Canara region is further classified as

Uttara Kanada, also known as North Kanara is a Konkan district.

South Kanara, covers the areas of dakshin Kanada and Udupi districts of Karnataka.

South Canara was a district of the Madras Presidency of British India, located at 13.00°N 75.40°E.[2] It covered the areas of the present-day districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka and the Kasaragod District of Kerala. The district was one of the most heterogeneous of Madras Presidency with Kannada, Tulu, Konkani and Malayalam being the principal languages spoken. It was succeeded by Dakshina Kannada in 1947.

Today's recipe is featured under the Hassan District.

Recipe : Basale Soppu Saaru
District : Hassan

The Basale Soppu is mostly used in the Karavalli and Malenadu regions of Karnataka.

 Ingredients

Toor dal – 1 cup
Tomato - 1 - Cut long
Basale soppu  / Malabar Spinach – 300 gms
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
Onion - 1 - chopped
Salt to taste

For Tempering :

Oil - 1 Tbsp
Mustard Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves -1 spring

For the masala :

Jeera – 1 tsp
Coriander seeds – 1 and ½ tsp
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
coconut – 2 tablespoon
Onion - 1
Garlic pods – 4-6

Method :

1. Pressure cook the greens with dal, tomato, onion, turmeric and salt.
2. Roast the Jeera and Coriander seeds on medium heat. Let cool.
3. Grind the rest of the ingredients listed under the masala with the roasted Jeera and coriander.
4. Add the masala to the cooked dal and soppu.
5. Mix well and bring to a boil.
6. Heat oil for tempering. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Once they splutter, transfer it to the cooked soppu saaru.
7. Adjust seasoning and serve hot with rice.


Recipe Source : from here.
Text Source :  from Wikipedia.