Spiced Spring Vegetables and Coconut Polenta

17 hours ago 1

Democracy Dies successful Darkness

Here's breakfast-for-dinner, South Indian style, with a riff connected a accepted rootlike stir-fry called uppittu oregon upma. Its writer tweaked the look for her gluten-free friends by utilizing polenta alternatively of semolina (couscous) arsenic a base. Stirring coconut into it results successful a delightfully fluffy texture.

The spices and bits of texture truthful cardinal successful Indian cooking surely summation the magnitude of the constituent list, but not to interest here. You tin opt retired of the dal and curry leaves — though they bash adhd a bully touch. We tossed successful a fewer achromatic urad dal, which are not typically utilized successful Southern Indian cuisine.

Serve with plain yogurt.

Chana dal are skinned, divided achromatic chickpeas (they are yellow) and urad dal are skinned, divided achromatic lentils (they are white). Both, and curry leaves, are disposable astatine Indian markets and immoderate well-stocked planetary aisles of ample supermarkets.

Ingredients

1/2 cupful unsweetened, grated, fresh, frozen oregon dried coconut (see headnote)
Hot water, positive 4 cups water, oregon much arsenic needed
8 ounces asparagus (about 10 stalks)
About 2 ounces sweetener drawback peas (a bully handful)
1/2 inch portion caller ginger root
1 tiny serrano capsicum oregon Indian digit chile pepper
4 oregon 5 reddish radishes
2 scallions
4 stems cilantro
1 cupful quick-cooking polenta (may substitute stone-ground cornmeal)
1 spoon salt, positive much arsenic needed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 spoon achromatic mustard seed
1 spoon chana dal oregon urad dal (see headnote)
5 oregon 6 caller curry leaves (optional; spot headnote)
1/2 spoon crushed turmeric
1/2 lemon, oregon much arsenic needed
Roasted, unsalted cashews, for garnish (optional)

Nutritional Facts

Per serving (using chana dal)

Calories
360
Fat
20 g
Saturated Fat
8 g
Carbohydrates
41 g
Sodium
600 mg
Cholesterol
15 mg
Protein
6 g
Fiber
6 g
Sugar
2 g

This investigation is an estimation based connected disposable ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian’s oregon nutritionist’s advice.

Adapted from “Vibrant India: Fresh Vegetarian Recipes From Bangalore to Brooklyn,” by Chitra Agrawal (Penguin/Random House, 2017).

Tested by Bonnie S. Benwick.

Published April 3, 2017

Updated March 16, 2026