This Drumstick Soup is a light, nutritious, and flavorful South Indian-style soup made with drumsticks (moringa pods), split yellow moong dal, spices, and herbs, cooked in a pressure cooker. Perfect as a comforting appetizer or meal.
Drumstick pods are widely used in Indian cooking. I have grown up eating drumstick sambar at least once a week, along with drumstick potato sabzi. We also use moringa leaves to make dishes like moringa dal and moringa paratha.
Today I am sharing Drumstick Soup (Nuggekayi Soup in Kannada), a South Indian-inspired soup made with drumsticks (moringa pods), split yellow moong dal, and spices, herbs, and aromatics. The addition of moon dal makes it wholesome and protein-rich.
This soup is light on the stomach and very nourishing, perfect as an Indian starter or a light meal.
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How to Make Drumstick Soup
To the Pressure cooker, add 4 drumsticks (peeled and cut, about 2 cups), 2 tablespoons moong dal, ½ small onion (roughly chopped), 1 small diced tomato, 3 garlic cloves, 1 inch ginger, ½ teaspoon turmeric, salt, 2 cups of water (or vegetable broth). Mix everything well.
Close the lid. Give 2-3 whistles on medium flame and let the pressure release naturally.
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method: Follow the same steps as the stovetop pressure cooker. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and timer to 6-8 minutes, and let the pressure release naturally. All the other steps remain the same.
Once the soup mixture has slightly cooled, transfer it to a high-speed blender like a Vitamix and blend until smooth.
Strain the mixture using a fine-mesh strainer to separate the fibre and other solids from the pulp.
Also, if you think the soup is too thick, add water or vegetable broth to the soup. I added ½ cup of water. Next, add ½ teaspoon roasted jeera powder and ¼ teaspoon pepper powder.
Next, add the ghee cumin tempering/tadka (optional but recommended). Mix well and bring it to a boil for 1-2 minutes.
Lastly, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves. Mix well.
Drumstick moong soup is ready to serve.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this soup hot as an appetizer or quick meal, or with steamed sona masoori rice.
Tips & Variations
- Use oil instead of ghee for a vegan version.
- You can add 1 cup of moringa leaves while pressure cooking, which tastes good and is nutritious.
- You may skip or replace moong dal with toor dal or masoor dal (red lentils).
- I used frozen drumsticks because fresh ones are not so great at Indian stores in the USA.
More Indian Soup Recipes, You May Love
Drumstick Soup Recipe (Moringa Soup)
Ingredients
- 4 medium drumsticks cut into 2-inch pieces, (I used frozen)
- 2 tablespoons split yellow moong dal
- ½ small onion roughly chopped
- 1 small tomato roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 inch ginger
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- salt
- 2 cups water (or vegetable broth) (+ ½-1 cup water to add consistency)
- ½ teaspoon roasted jeera powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper powder to taste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves
For Tempering (Optional)
- 1 teaspoon ghee (or oil)
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
Instructions
- To the Pressure cooker, add 3-4 drumsticks (peeled and cut, about 2 cups), 2 tablespoons moong dal, ½ small onion (roughly chopped), 1 small diced tomato, 3 garlic cloves, 1 inch ginger, ½ teaspoon turmeric, salt, 2 cups of water (or vegetable broth). Mix everything well.
- Close the lid. Give 2-3 whistles on medium flame and let the pressure release naturally.Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Method: Follow the same steps as the stovetop pressure cooker. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and timer to 6-8 minutes, and let the pressure release naturally. All the other steps remain the same.
- Once the soup mixture has slightly cooled, transfer it to a high-speed blender like a Vitamix and blend until smooth.
- Strain the mixture using a fine-mesh strainer to separate the fibre and other solids from the pulp.Also, if you think the soup is too thick, add water or vegetable broth to the soup. I added ½ cup of water. Next, add roasted jeera powder and pepper powder.
- Next, add the ghee cumin tempering/tadka (optional but recommended). Mix well and bring it to a boil for 1-2 minutes.
- Lastly, add lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves. Mix well.
- Drumstick moong soup is ready to serve.
Nutrition
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lakshmipriya pala
Prepared this Drumstick soup with Moringa leaves, it came out so delicious and wholesome.
Bhavana Patil
Hi Lakshmi, i am glad you liked it