17, Mar 2026
MULAI KEERAI MASIYAL
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Mulai Keerai is a popular leafy green vegetable widely used in South Indian cooking, especially in Tamil Nadu. It belongs to the amaranth plant family and is valued for its tender leaves, mild taste and high nutritional content. It is rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A, C and dietary fiber. It helps to boosts immunity and supports digestion.

Mulai keerai masiyal is a traditional South Indian dish made with mulai keerai. The mulai keerai is cooked until tender and then mashed into a smooth or slightly coarse texture. It has a light flavour and is usually tampered with mustard seeds, urid dhal and dry red chillies to enhance the taste.

ABOUT THE RECIPE:

This is a traditional recipe, that we make in our home for generations. We add coconut milk at the end to enhance the flavour, which is completely optional.

Mulai keerai masiyal is usually served with hot steamed rice along with a dollop of ghee. Any kind of vegetable curry, Poriyal, Fryums or Pickle goes well as a side dish for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS FOR MULAI KEERAI MASIYAL:

  • MULAI KEERAI – 1 BUNCH
  • ONION (MEDIUM SIZE/DICED) – 1 NO.
  • GREEN CHILLIES (MEDIUM SPICY) – 1 NO.
  • GARLIC (PEELED) – 10 NOS
  • GRATED COCONUT – 1/4 CUP
  • SALT – AS REQUIRED
A bunch of fresh green leafy herbs with visible stems and roots on a gray countertop.
An overhead view of various ingredients for cooking, including chopped onions, grated coconut, salt, green chillies, and garlic, all placed in small glass bowls on a wooden surface.

FOR TAMPERING:

  • MUSTARD SEEDS – 1/2 TSP
  • URID DHAL – 1/2 TSP
  • DRY RED CHILLIES – 2 NOS.
  • OIL – 1 TSP
A white bowl containing urid dhal, dry red chillies, and mustard seeds, arranged on a wooden surface.

HOW TO MAKE MULAI KEERAI MASIYAL:

  • Clean and wash the mulai keerai thoroughly with water, and add them to a cooking pot. Trim the roots. The stalk can be finely chopped and added along with the leaves.
Chopped leafy greens in a metal bowl, lightly wet.
  • Add the garlic, diced onion, green chillies and salt to it.
A bowl filled with chopped green leafy vegetables, diced onions, garlic cloves, green chilies, and salt.
  • Also, add 1 cup of water to it and mix everything well.
Chopped fresh green herbs and onions in a metal bowl.
  • Place it on the stove, and turn on the flame.
A bowl filled with finely chopped greens and onions, depicting a fresh assortment of herbs and vegetables.
  • Cook it on medium-high flame, until it softens.
Chopped green leafy vegetables sautéed with garlic and onions in a gray cooking pot.
  • Meanwhile, add the grated coconut to a blender along with 1/2 cup of water and blend it.
A close-up view of a blender with a light gray liquid mixture, featuring a small brown object in the center.
  • Once it softens, mash it using a potato masher. Using potato masher is much easier compared to the traditional masher.
Close-up view of sautéed green leafy vegetables with chopped onions in a pan.
  • Then add the blended coconut milk to it.
A pot containing cooked leafy greens mixed with coconut milk and sprinkled with salt.
  • Mash it again. Turn the flame to medium-low, and let it cook until it becomes dry.
A close-up view of a pot containing a mixture of finely chopped green vegetables, possibly spinach or similar greens, cooked and combined with onions and some liquid.
  • Once it becomes dry, and all the water dries out turn off the flame. Transfer it to a serving bowl.
A metal bowl filled with finely chopped green leafy vegetables, mixed and cooked with garlic and spices.
  • For tampering, heat 1 tsp of oil in a tadka pan, and add 1/2 tsp of mustard seeds and 1/2 tsp of urid dhal to it.
Close-up of a pot with bubbling oil and small yellow ingredients, likely spices or seeds, being prepared for cooking.
  • Once the urid dhal starts to turn light golden brown in color, turn off the flame, and add the dry red chillies to it.
Red dried chilies frying in hot oil, creating bubbles in a cooking pan.
  • Pour the tampering onto the cooked mulai keerai, and mix it well.
A metal bowl containing a green leafy mixture with spices, including dried red chilies and mustard seeds.

YUMMY AND DELICIOUS MULAI KEERAI MASIYAL IS READY.

A bowl of finely chopped green leafy vegetables garnished with a dried chili, placed on a wooden surface.

SERVE IT WITH HOT STEAMED RICE, ALONG WITH YOUR FAVOURITE SIDE DISH.

I HAD MULAI KEERAI MASIYAL WITH HOT STEAMED RICE, ALONG WITH CAULIFLOWER PORIYAL AND POTATO CHIPS AS A SIDE DISH.

A stainless steel plate containing white rice, a serving of sautéed vegetables, a portion of leafy greens with a dollop of yellow condiment, and a side of potato chips.

MULAI KEERAI MASIYAL

Recipe by foodpassion1513Cuisine: SOUTH INDIAN
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Calories

50-60

kcal

Mulai Keerai is a popular leafy green vegetable widely used in South Indian cooking, especially in Tamil Nadu. It belongs to the amaranth plant family and is valued for its tender leaves, mild taste and high nutritional content. It is rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A, C and dietary fiber. It helps to boosts immunity and supports digestion.
Mulai keerai masiyal is a traditional South Indian dish made with mulai keerai. The mulai keerai is cooked until tender and then mashed into a smooth or slightly coarse texture. It has a light flavour and is usually tampered with mustard seeds, urid dhal and dry red chillies to enhance the taste.

Ingredients

  • MULAI KEERAI – 1 BUNCH

  • ONION (MEDIUM SIZE/DICED) – 1 NO.

  • GREEN CHILLIES (MEDIUM SPICY) – 1 NO.

  • GARLIC (PEELED) – 10 NOS

  • GRATED COCONUT – 1/4 CUP

  • SALT – AS REQUIRED

  • FOR TAMPERING:

  • MUSTARD SEEDS – 1/2 TSP

  • URID DHAL – 1/2 TSP

  • DRY RED CHILLIES – 2 NOS.

  • OIL – 1 TSP

Directions

  • Clean and wash the mulai keerai thoroughly with water, and add them to a cooking pot. Trim the roots. The stalk can be finely chopped and added along with the leaves.
  • Add the garlic, diced onion, green chillies and salt to it.
  • Also, add 1 cup of water to it and mix everything well.
  • Place it on the stove, and turn on the flame.
  • Cook it on medium-high flame, until it softens.
  • Meanwhile, add the grated coconut to a blender along with 1/2 cup of water and blend it.
  • Once it softens, mash it using a potato masher. Using potato masher is much easier compared to the traditional masher.
  • Then add the blended coconut milk to it.
  • Mash it again. Turn the flame to medium-low, and let it cook until it becomes dry.
  • Once it becomes dry, and all the water dries out turn off the flame. Transfer it to a serving bowl.
  • For tampering, heat 1 tsp of oil in a tadka pan, and add 1/2 tsp of mustard seeds and 1/2 tsp of urid dhal to it.
  • Once the urid dhal starts to turn light golden brown in color, turn off the flame, and add the dry red chillies to it.
  • Pour the tampering onto the cooked mulai keerai, and mix it well.
  • YUMMY AND DELICIOUS MULAI KEERAI MASIYAL IS READY.

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