Pick the keerai leaves from the bunch and wash them thoroughly. Usually the greens have loads of mud and dirt. It is very important to clean the leaves very well before using in the recipe.

Take the leaves in a pressure cooker. We add 2 tablespoons moong dal or green gram in this recipe. You can leave out if you do not prefer adding lentils. Add just 1/4 cup water and pressure cook for 4 whistles.

Once the pressure settles open the cooker and mash the greens very well. At this point you can use a hand blender or mixer for very smooth keerai masiyal.

Season with salt and mix well. Add salt only at this stage. Keerai shrinks enormously on cooking. So if salt is added initially the masiyal will be very salty.

heat oil or ghee in a small pan. Tempe with urad dal, cumin seeds and dried red chilies.

Add to the prepared keerai and mix well. Serve keera kadiyal hot with rice.