Red Pumpkin Curry

Yerra Gummadikaya Teepi Kura.

Red pumpkin is peeled and chopped into small chunks. Oil is tempered with regular spices and chopped pumpkin is cooked in it along with onion till soft. Tamarind gives the pumpkin sourness while jaggery the sweetness.
Makes: around 3 Servings of Red Pumpkin Curry.

Ingredients:

• Red Pumpkin 1/4 th of Small One
• Onion 1
• Green Chile 1
• Garlic 1 Clove
• Jaggery 1 (2 inch block)
• Tamarind 2 inch sized ball
• Coriander Powder 1/4 tsp
• Red Chile Powder 1/4 tsp
• Turmeric Powder a pinch
• Salt to taste

Talimpu:

• Fenugreek Seeds 4
• Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
• Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Broken Red Chiles 2
• Curry Leaves 6
• Ghee or Oil 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

Wash, remove skin with help of a knife and discard the seeds of the pumpkin.
Chop pumpkin into small chunks (around 2 cups).
Soak tamarind in quarter cup or more of warm water for sometime and extract all the thick juice.
Peel and finely chop the onion.
Remove stem, wash and finely chop the green chile.
Peel and mash the garlic clove.

Heat oil in a pan on medium flame , add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, add garlic, chopped onion and green chiles.
When onion turns translucent, add red pumkin chunks, tamarind extract and jaggery.
Cook covered on low flame for 5 – 10 minutes. Add a splash of water if required.
Let the jaggery dissolve completely during which pumpkin pieces cook while holding its shape.
Then stir in coriander powder, red chile powder and salt.
Stir well, taste and adjust any seasonings if required.
Serve red pumpkin curry with plain steamed rice and dollop of ghee.
Notes: Make sure pumpkin is soft and cooked.

Suggestions: If the pumpkin curry is too sour, add more jaggery. If the pumpkin curry is too sweet, add more tamarind extract to cut down the sweetness.
Variations: Check the stew made with red pumpkin and also a curry with red pumpkin.
Other Names: Red Pumpkin Curry, Erra Gummadi Teepi Kura.