castor oil is amanakku oil or velakennai. For ages, we know that castor oil is the best laxative to treat constipation problems. But researches have proven that castor oil boosts immune system and improves blood circulation. Moderate intake of castor oil promotes good health.
In our home, we use castor oil twice in a week in our cooking. We add a tsp of castor oil whenever we make lentils/dal. For plain dal tadka as in this post or you can even add when cooking dal for sambar. I started giving this velakennai parupu for my baby after her first birthday.
Caution : Castor oil might be allergic to some people. Pregnant ladies avoid using castor oil as it might induce premature labor. Feeding moms too can avoid it as it might cause allergies to babies, though no proven data exists.
The toxin(Ricin) threat of castor bean does not apply to castor oil as Ricin is not present in the oil. Interested people can read my earlier post on castor beans used in Indian cooking(click here).
castor oil cooking recipe – Stepwise pics follow the below printable description:
- Toor dal/Thuvaram parupu - ½ cup
- Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
- Asafoetida/Perungayam - a generous pinch
- Ripened tomato - ½
- Garlic cloves - 2
- Water - 1+ cup
- Castor oil/velakennai - 1 tsp
- Coconut/groundnut oil - 1 tbsp
- Cumin seeds/jeeragam - ¼ tsp
- Small onions - 10
- Green chillies - 1 or 2
- Curry leaves - few
- Coriander leaves - few
- Water - ½ cup
- Rock salt - ¼ tsp heaped
- Take ½ cup toor dal and wash it twice in a separate bowl. Then transfer the washed dal to cooker. Add ¼ tsp turmeric powder.
- Take half tomato, chop it and add. Peel 2 garlic cloves and add.
- Add a generous pinch of asafoetida and a cup of water or lil more till an inch above dal.
- Add a tsp of castor oil / velakennai and pressure cook for 4 whistles or until cooked soft.
- Open the cooker once pressure releases naturally. Chop 10 small onions , 1 or 2 green chillies and few coriander leaves. Wash few curry leaves and keep ready. Add a tbsp of coconut/groundnut/ any cooking oil in a pan. Once hot, add ¼ tsp cumin seeds/jeera.
- Once crackled, add chopped onions, green chillies and curry leaves. Once onions slightly change colour, add chopped coriander leaves and stir once.
- Add cooked dal. Wash the cooker with ¼ cup to ½ cup water and add to dal.
- Add ¼ tsp rock salt or as required. Let it boil. Once it becomes slightly thick, switch off. Pls mind that it will still thicken over time.
2.Do not add more than a tsp of castor oil as it might dominate the taste when added more.
Preparation – How to use castor oil in cooking?
1.Take 1/2 cup toor dal and wash it twice in a separate bowl. Then transfer the washed dal to cooker. Add 1/4 tsp turmeric powder.
2.Take half tomato, chop it and add. Peel 2 garlic cloves and add.
3.Add a generous pinch of asafoetida and a cup of water or lil more till an inch above dal.
4.Add a tsp of castor oil / velakennai and pressure cook for 4 whistles or until cooked soft.
5.Open the cooker, once pressure releases naturally. Chop 10 small onions , 1 or 2 green chillies and few coriander leaves. Wash few curry leaves and keep ready. Add a tbsp of coconut/groundnut/ any cooking oil in a pan. Once hot, add 1/4 tsp cumin seeds/jeera.
6.Once crackled, add chopped onions, green chillies and curry leaves. Once onions slightly change colour, add chopped coriander leaves and stir once.
7.Add cooked dal. Wash the cooker with 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup water and add to dal.
8.Add 1/4 tsp rock salt or as required. Let it boil. Once it becomes slightly thick, switch off. Pls mind that it will still thicken over time.
Serve with hot rice and ghee..
Tips/Tricks in making velakennai parupu:
- If you want to use this as side-dish for rasam or any tamarind-based curry, then add very lil water to wash cooker so that dal becomes thick.
- Do not add more than a tsp of castor oil as it might dominate the taste when added more.
That looks so good, I love dahl! I just got castor oil and learned all about the ricin toxin, which is weird that castor oil is produced, as the bean after pressing is something of a danger to livestock, but anyhow, castor oil is not usually listed in ayurveda, but I like it for somethings. In a 1 to 3 ratio with Hempseed oil it’s good for nasya. In internal oleation it’s very heavy, but in small doses theraputic, probably good for low back, contraindicated in pregancy! I.e. Going to try to add in cooking, and again, your tarka dahl looks delicious!
Thank you.. We regularly use castor oil(small amount) in our cooking..
Hi. Can you please tell me how useful is castor oil as a natural contraceptive, if you would have information on that ? Thanks !
Researches suggest it to be a natural contraceptive.. But do not rely on it for contraception as it might not provide 100% birth control efficacy. Also, if you are trying to get pregnant, avoid this as the contraceptive nature might delay the conception..