Keerai Masiyal (Keerai Kadayal) – A Comforting Spinach Mash in Clay Pot
Keerai Masiyal, or Keerai Kadayal, is a humble yet iconic dish from Tamil Nadu featuring lightly spiced mashed greens. It's wholesome, nourishing, and incredibly simple to make.
Servings: 2
Calories: 89kcal
Ingredients
Measurement Details: 1 cup = 240 ml; 1 tbsp = 15 ml; 1 tsp = 5ml;
- 8 oz spinach approx 230 grams, cleaned and roughly chopped
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper powder
- ⅛ tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp urad dal
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- 2 dried red chilies
Instructions
- In a clay pot, pour ¼ cup of water, and add the chopped greens along with salt, turmeric, and pepper. Cover and cook over medium heat until the spinach wilts and starts to look frothy.
- Reduce the heat and use a wooden masher (matthu) or buttermilk churner to mash the spinach until smooth and creamy.
- In a small pan, heat coconut oil. Add mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, and dried red chilies. Once the mustard seeds splutter and the dal turns golden, pour the tempering over the mashed spinach.
- Mix well and serve hot with steamed rice and a dollop of ghee. It pairs beautifully with vathal kuzhambu for a soul-satisfying meal.
Video
Notes
- Adjust salt and red chilies to suit your taste.
- For extra flavor, see the Variations section below.
- If freezing, mash the spinach after cooking with salt, turmeric, and pepper. Cool it completely, portion it, and freeze it. Temper just before serving.
- Use thalippu vadagam (sun-dried spiced onion mix) to temper and boost flavor.
- Add 2 tbsp of cooked moong dal or toor dal for a creamier texture.
- Enhance the taste by adding garlic or shallots while cooking or tempering.
- Try other greens like amaranth or manathakkali, depending on availability.
Nutrition
Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1259mg | Potassium: 802mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 11071IU | Vitamin C: 97mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 4mg