Lentils and Drumsticks

October 25, 2011

lentils and drumsticks

October is coming to an end... which means its Halloween time...
While everyone is busy cooking, baking... setting the mood for Trick or Treat , I am falling behind and unable to keep up with the theme.... due to a very busy schedule... I have nothing to offer ... sadly.. but I have a story to tell...

Have you heard of Moringa Oleifera?  It is commonly known as Indian drumstick and Malays (from Kedah) would call this... Kacang Munggai.

Just imagine if you grow Moringa Oleifera in your backyard... It will not only gives you, your nutritional benefits, purify your water, it can also protect you from evil spell. And that is why... it is called ~ Tree of Life, or in East Africa... it is called "Mothers' best friend". The benefits are endless... you can Google 'Moringa Oleifera' and read about it.

 
I would like to add another one to that numerous list... with the story I am about to tell...
As a young girl... I would sit quietly and listen to adults talking and exchanging their hair raising, supernatural, ghostly stories... it scared the s**t out of me... nevertheless I was drawn to their stories.... just like a magnet...

lentils and drumsticks

One of the stories  would be about 'Orang Minyak' (direct translation would be the Oily Man ) a movie was made, back in 1956 based on this story/myth

I would refer him as The Cursed Man'... his body would be covered, in what the adult would say ..black oil (hence the name).  Apparently, he wanted to learn about the spritual world... malice intended. He sold his soul to the devil. In exchange... and to achieve his supernatural powers... he has to de-flower 40 young maiden virgins within a week...

Once the word was out that The Cursed Man is on the prowl...  villagers would be on alert and wary of their surroundings. Chaotic time...Men would patrol the village perimeters, hoping to catch  the culprit...However The Cursed Man managed to slip into the night unnoticed...

And Mothers would try their best to protect their young girls "innocence" by making the daughters wear their fathers' sweaty shirt at night... giving the impression that they were men instead of young girls...
During this terrifying moments ... parents would be 'frantically' looking for Moringa Oleifera trees... A foot long Moringa Oleifera sticks were given to these young girls, and to be placed under their pillow at night...
The foot long Moringa Oleifera stick has the same effect as garlic had on Dracula... The Cursed Man would stay away... as he was afraid, very afraid... One hit with the stick, his supernatural power would diminished and  he'd immediately transformed into a powerless man...

Just imagine the worried look on my parents' face... everytime they hear the news that The Cursed Man is on the prowl again... for they have 4 daughters...

Happy Halloween
Care to share your scary childhood stories with me?
lentils and drumsticks

I found frozen packets of Drumsticks in an Indian grocer... and decided to cook a simple dhal and serve with roti.

Wishing my Friends and Readers... Near and Far...

Have a wonderful

Diwali Celebration
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Lentils and Drumsticks Recipe

1cup of washed red lentils
2 cups of water (approx)
1 frozen packet of Indian drumsticks (Moringa Oleifera) - thawed
2 inch of ginger
2 garlic
1 teaspoon of ground tumeric
2 dried chillies - cut up
salt
golden fried shallots
1 stalk of curry leaves
  1. Pound garlic and ginger until smooth. Set aside. 
  2. In a medium size saucepan, bring to boil lentils, chillies, curry leaves and drumsticks.
  3. Then reduce to a simmer for about 15 minutes or lentils turned mushy.
  4. Remember to add water if the lentils becomes dry.
  5. Add pounded garlic, ginger, tumeric and salt.
  6. Cook for another 10 minutes and turned off the heat.
  7. Add the golden fried shallots.
  8. Serve.
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Comments

  1. iva | in my kitchenOctober 25, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    Salam aunty/kak? Lisa,

    The story of orang minyak scared me as a child! I think I even saw the movie once. Thanks for bringing back some old memories and thanks for sharing this wonderful looking lentil recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  2. WinstonOctober 25, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    Oh my goodness... Those horror stories we used to grow up listening to in Malaysia are the WORST!! Makes all the "Western" ghosts sound like nothing especially when you have movies such as "Casper the friendly ghost" hahaha...

    But yeah, I'm not scared of ghosts in Aus, but in Malaysia I went through a very scared of ghosts phase. The stories back home are too real and confronting and there's so many of these to be afraid of, it's the worst. I don't want to go into details, but I've had encounter with a "pontianak" whether you believe it or not, I started praying so much after that I was so scared haha...

    ANYWAY, I really, really love dhal so thanks for the recipe! *chills* haha

    ReplyDelete
  3. ShereenOctober 25, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    Hi Lisa,
    From what I know, those wearing 'susuk' can't eat this also..one of the pantangs apparently.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Baker StreetOctober 25, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    I've love drumsticks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. AmeliaOctober 25, 2011 at 3:31 PM

    Hi Lisa, you story remind me of those day when I was still young, staying near the kampong and the graveyard is just 500 meter away. Those makcik use to tell us the orang minyak story, it did give us goose bump. But me & the neighbors kids also very naughty, we use to play hide and seek at the graveyard never give second thought " what if the ghost appear" hahaha

    Anyway, your drumsticks dish looks extremely good and appetizing. yum yum. Have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rosa's Yummy YumsOctober 25, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Lovely food! I'd love to try those drumsticks...

    Happy Halloween!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  7. Angie's RecipesOctober 26, 2011 at 1:24 AM

    Food looks mouthwatering..I don't think I have ever seen Indian drumsticks...fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sylvia@peachesanddonutsOctober 26, 2011 at 4:42 AM

    Very interesting and tasty post! I'ev never seen the drumsticks nor heard of that horror story before!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. linaOctober 26, 2011 at 6:08 AM

    Roti, lentils and drumsticks...what else to ask for:). As for spooky tales...my granny used to have a 'pantang' of us mentioning smelling frangipanis at night in case this attracts the hantus. Not so practical esp when there was a frangipani tree close to our house...

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  10. Lisa HoOctober 26, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    Iva,
    I still remember the late P. Ramlee movie... watched few times over the years.
    Iva... just call me lisa :D

    Winston.
    Fuiyo... must 'mandi' air bunga to buang 'sueh' man... I'd be scared too.

    Shereen
    a-ha... I didn't know about 'susuk' and drumsticks

    Baker Street
    :D

    Amelia
    Wow... that must be something... to play hide and seek at the graveyard... You were fearless :P

    Rosa
    Happy Halloween to you too :D

    Angie
    Doubt they grow in Europe... perhaps when you visit South East Asia... you may find some :D

    Sylvia
    A-ha... Malaysia still has dimly lit or 'no electricity' villages, that create the spooky ambient ;P

    lina
    I heard that too... especially when we could smell the sweet smell of jasmine or frangipani at dusk :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. JanineOctober 27, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    I always love reading your posts, because I always learn something new :) I've always seen Moringa Oleifer around, but never knew they were called that! and i heard about the orang minyak story too hehehehe

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nami | Just One CookbookOctober 27, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    I think Asian ghost stories are somewhat scarier for some reason. Halloween can be scary but there are lots of cute stuff. But not in Asia... I love your recipe - looks so yummy. I want to dip the chapati in the sauce... YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lisa HoOctober 28, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Janine,
    awww.... thanks dearie :D

    Nami
    I think so too... it must be from the stories we heard growing up... LOL blame the adults (at that time ;P)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fern @ To Food With LoveOctober 28, 2011 at 10:09 PM

    Ahh...is that what they usually put in dhal curries? I always thought they were ladies' fingers! I've never heard of this before though...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Biren @ Roti n RiceOctober 29, 2011 at 4:03 AM

    I did not realize there is a ghost story related to the drumsticks. I managed to find some fresh ones from the Indian grocery store not too long ago and cooked them with shrimp. They were expensive but such a treat! Yours with dhal and roti looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awayofmind Bakery HouseNovember 2, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    I learn something new from this dish, I thought it was ladies fingers in it :) yes, definately yummy to go with roti!

    ReplyDelete
  17. tigerfishNovember 9, 2011 at 6:06 AM

    Only recently I know these are called drumsticks and now, I know the "technical name" for it - Moringa Oleifera! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lisa HoNovember 9, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    To Food with love
    You are right... in the restaurants most likely ladies fingers are being used.

    Biren
    LOL... that's the scary part living in a dark, not well lit kampongs, we get lots of ghost stories ;P

    Ah Tze
    :D

    tigerfish
    we all learn something from each other... the wonderful world of cyber :D

    ReplyDelete

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