Bottle Gourd in Red Lentils

Anapakaya Erra Kandulu Pappu.

Red lentils are used here which cook relatively fast when compared with other lentils. Bottle gourd is chopped up and cooked along with red lentils, green chiles and tamarind. When the dal and bottle gourd is cooked well, its finished by tempering with spices. Serve bottle gourd in red lentils with steamed rice or with roti.
Makes: around 4 Servings of Bottle Gourd in Red Lentils .

Ingredients:

• Red Lentils / Masoor Dal 1 1/2 Cups
• Bottle Gourd 1/2 of Small One
• Green Chiles 2 – 4
• Tamarind 1 Inch Piece
• Turmeric Powder a big Pinch
• Salt to taste

Talimpu:

• Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
• Broken Dried Red Chiles 3 – 4
• Asafoetida a Big Pinch
• Curry Leaves 5
• Oil 2 tsps

Method of preparation:

Remove stems, wash and slice the green chiles.
Soak tamarind in few tbsps of hot water and remove any veins and seeds.
Peel, wash, remove ends and chop bottle gourd into small pieces (around 2 Cups).
Wash and finely chop the cilantro leaves.

Heat 3 cups of water in a sauce pot, add masoor dal.
Let masoor dal cook for 5 – 10 minutes, stir in chopped bottle gourd, green chiles, tamarind, turmeric powder and salt.
Boil till masoor dal turns yellow and bottle gourd becomes soft but not mushy.

Heat oil in a small pan on medium heat, add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, remove from heat and add to the above pot with bottle gourd and lentils.
Boil for a minute and remove from heat.
Garnish with cilantro and serve bottle gourd in red lentils with steamed rice or with roti.
Notes: Make sure bottle gourd is cooked well before removing from heat.

via Talimpu