Drumstick leaves soup also known as murungai keerai soup is a traditional South Indian soup. This soup is so light, warm and healthy, that it perfectly suits people of all ages. It is often prepared at home when someone is feeling tired or unwell. Soups like this are very comforting and easy to digest. Drumstick leaves are rich in vitamins and antioxidants which helps to heal during cold and flu. It can be served as a starter or even as a light meal. With just a few ingredients, you can prepare this nutritious and tasty soup in no time.
Drumstick Leaves Soup Recipe(Murungai keerai soup)
If you are looking for soups which are really healthy, then this is the one. This soup is packed with iron. So good for you. Plus it is easy to make and tasty too.
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About Drumstick Leaves Soup
Drumstick leaves soup is a healthy and comforting South Indian soup recipe made using fresh murungai keerai leaves. These leaves are so small, round and tender, ideal for making sambar, stir fry, dosai and soup. It is so light, full of nutrients and perfect for warm weather. This recipe is so easy that it can be made in less than 20 minutes.
Drumstick leaves soup also known as murungai keerai soup or moringa leaves soup. These leaves are generally used in South Indian households to prepare sambar and stir fry ( poriyal ) recipes. The soup is prepared by cooking the drumstick leaves with garlic, ginger, onion, tomatoes, cumin and pepper. Everything is simmered together to release the flavours naturally. Once the base soup is ready, you can adjust it in your way. Some may strain before serving, while others enjoy the leaves in the soup for added nutrition. This soup is great for boosting immunity and increasing blood count.
During my fifth month of pregnancy my iron levels are low. So the doctor recommended eating iron rich foods like mutton liver, dates, figs and drumstick leaves. A grandmother was residing in our neighbourhood, she had a drumstick tree in her garden. When my mother mentioned my health to her, she brought me a handful of fresh drumstick leaves every other day.
My mom then uses those leaves to make recipes like drumstick leaves adai, drumstick poriyal and drumstick leaves soup. Basically I got too much pampered during those days. And you know what? That was the only time I ate greens without any complaint.
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WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
Healthy and nutritious : Drumstick leaves are rich in iron, vitamins and protein. It helps to strengthen bones, increase blood count and boosts immunity. It is also an excellent source of plant based protein.
WHY I LOVE THIS RECIPE – Honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of drumstick leaves before my pregnancy. But after knowing about their healthy benefits, I slowly started including them in our meals. I make sure to use them at least once or twice a week. Drumstick leaves soup is more than just a traditional recipe, it is a natural immunity booster. It is prepared using natural ingredients like green leaf, garlic and spices. So, you can make something quick and healthy delicious soup without much effort.
Simple and easy : The drumstick leave soup is prepared using the basic pantry staples like garlic, onion, ginger, tomatoes, pepper and cumin. These ingredients are easily available at home and all together can be put under 20 minutes to make a healthy and nutritious soup.
Ingredients
Oil / Ghee : Oil / ghee is used for tempering the spices. You can use any oil of your choices like coconut oil, sesame oil, olive oil. Use very little amount of oil as it helps to keep the soup light and healthier.
Cumin seeds / Jeeragam : Crushed or whole cumin seeds add a nice earthy aroma. It also helps in digestion.
Ginger and Garlic : Use finely chopped or crushed ginger garlic, You can even use ginger garlic paste for sauteing. This adds a mild spice and pungent flavour. This helps to boost digestion and soothes cold.
Shallots / Sambar onion / Chinna ulli : Traditionally shallots are used for making soup. You can also substitute it with a big onion or spring onion. It adds a mild sweet flavour to the soup base.
Tomatoes : Tomatoes add a tangy and sweet flavour to the soup base.
Drumstick leaves / Murungai keerai / Moringa leaves : Drumstick leaves are the main ingredient of the soup. Use clean and fresh leaves for making soup. It has a lot of health benefits and also has a unique flavour.
Pepper : Pepper adds the subtle spicy flavour to the soup. Add freshly grounded pepper powder for the aroma. It is often used in soups for digestion and also to heal colds and flu.
Salt : Salt is used to balance the overall taste and flavour. Adjust the quantity according to your taste preference.
How to Store Drumstick Leaves
There are different ways to store or preserve the fresh drumstick leaves :
Refrigerated method : Pluck the leaves from drumstick stems. Wash and clean them using a damp cloth. Dry them completely before storing. Put it in a ziploc bag or in a container. It stays good for a week. For longer shelf life, it can be frozen for a month.
Moringa powder : Wash the drumstick leaves under water. Clean and dry them using a sun dry or air dry method. The leaves should be crumbly and crispy. Grind them using a blender into fine powder. Sieve and store them in a container. This moringa powder is a versatile and nutritious powder. It can be used in various recipes like soup, dosai, salads, poriyal, drinks and desserts.
Hacks
Preparation : Carefully pluck each leaf from the drumstick stems. Wash them thoroughly under water and dry them.
Sauteing : In a pot, add oil or ghee. Add chopped shallots, crushed ginger and garlic, tomatoes. Saute them in medium heat for 2 minutes until they become soft and translucent. Add a handful of washed drumstick leaves. Stir them and then they start to shrink.
Simmering : Pour in water or vegetable broth in the pot, bring them to boil. Let the soup simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes and the flavours release naturally. Finally add the spices like crushed jeera and pepper. Add salt to taste.
Blend or Strain ( optional ) : It is completely optional to blend or strain the soup. This option is suitable when you’re serving kids. If you’re blending, cool the mixture lightly and then blend it using an immersion blender or in a mixer.
Drumstick Leaves Soup (Step by Step)
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| Take all your ingredients |
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| Wash your drumstick leaves |
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| heat oil in a pan |
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| add in some cumin seeds |
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| in goes garlic and a lots of it |
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| add in some grated ginger |
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| Saute for a min |
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| Add in some shallots / sambar onion |
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| Saute till it is translucent |
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| Add in tomatoes |
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| Saute till it turns mushy |
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| Add in drumstick leaves |
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| saute well |
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| pour in water |
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| mix well and cook for 10 mins.. |
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| add in salt and pepper |
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| mix well |
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| Serve |
Expert Tips
- Add a pinch of turmeric powder for color and its health benefits. ● You can also add other vegetables of your choice like carrot, tofu for added protein.
- For a more flavourful soup, add vegetable stock instead of water for cooking.
- Add a pinch of lemon juice for a subtle sour flavour.
- A handful of corn flakes can also be added as topping before serving. ● Garnish with coriander leaves.
Storage
Completely cool the drumstick leave soup before storing in the refrigerator. Pour them in a glass jar or in a container. Store it in the fridge and it stays good for 2 to 3 days.
You can also freeze the soup. It can also be stored in smaller portions like pouring in an ice cube tray or in small containers. Whenever you want, just thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat using a microwave or stove top method.
Serving
Drumstick leave soup can be served warm as a starter or as a light dinner meal option. It can also be paired with hot rice with a dollop of ghee on top.
When you’re serving kids, strain the soup, top it off with corn flakes and serve warm.
FAQ
Q. Why is my soup too watery ?
If you prefer thicker soup, add some cooked lentils like moong dal or toor dal. Or you can also make a slurry paste using corn flour and add it to the soup. This will help to achieve thicker soup.
Q.Can I use dried or frozen drumstick leaves ?
Absolutely, yes ! If you don’t have fresh drumstick leaves, you can use dried or frozen leaves. Or even you can use drumstick leaf powder to make the soup. The flavour may differ accordingly.
Q. Is it a spicy soup?
Traditionally, it is not a spicy soup. The soup is prepared mainly using the drumstick leaves and fresh spices like garlic, cumin and pepper. If you want to make it spicier, adjust the quantity of pepper accordingly.
Q . Is this soup only for sick people ?
Not really ! It is a delicious and light soup to enjoy any time and it is also great for boosting immunity health.
Variations
Drumstick soup : This is a healthy and light broth prepared using the drumstick flesh. The flesh is cooked and then pulp is strained. It is then cooked along with onion, garlic, and spices. It is good for colds and coughs.
Drumstick leaves thogayal : This is a flavourful chutney prepared using the fresh drumstick leaves, garlic, onion and chillies. It is a great accompaniment for idli, dosai and rice.
Drumstick leave soup with coconut milk : If you want to make a thick version of drumstick leave soup, add freshly squeezed coconut milk towards the end. It adds a nice tropical aroma to the soup.
Ragi drumstick leaves adai : This is a healthy, nutritious and filling meal option. Ragi drumstick leave adai is a savoury dosai prepared using ragi flour, green leaves, and spices. It is full of calcium and iron. Serve hot with coconut chutney.
More Drumstick Leaves Recipes
📖 Recipe Card
Drumstick Leaves Soup Recipe | Murungai Keerai Soup Recipe
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 243kcal
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Nutrition
Serving: 1servings | Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 261IU | Vitamin C: 526mg | Calcium: 1066mg | Iron: 2mg
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