Channa Dal with Bottle Gourd (or pumpkin) - An Oriyan Recipe

Things have been busy around here as it is nearing the end of the school year. DD is a senior this year and will be off to college. I am not really sure how I feel. I can't believe that 17 years flew by so quickly. Just when the early teen drama years have passed and things are much more pleasant and fun, it is time for her to go off and explore the next stage of life. Who said life is fair?

While the cooking and eating won't stop we are going to miss her when we cook one of her favorites :( Is the recipe I am going to talk about one of her favorites? Not exactly but it is a tasty one. I used bottle gourd but of course you can use orange pumpkin, butternut squash, Delicata or Acorn squash.

I had some bottle gourd and wanted something different from the usual recipes and chanced upon this one with Channa Dal and Pumpkin. For once I avoided using the pressure cooker for this recipe other than for cooking the dal.

Cook the onions, ginger and garlic with the tomatoes till the tomatoes are mushy.
Add the potatoes and bottle gourd and once cooked add in the cooked dal.

Channa Dal with Bottle Gourd
Preparation Time:10 minutes
Cooking Time:25 minutes
Ingredients

1. 1 1/2 cup of channa dal (kadalai paruppu)
2. 1 medium sized bottle gourd peeled and diced into 1 inch pieces
3. 2 potatoes peeled and diced into 1 inch pieces
4. 1/2 cup of diced red onions
5. 1 1/2 cup of chopped ripe tomatoes
6. 1 inch piece of ginger grated
7. 2 cloves of garlic grated or diced
8. 2 tsp of turmeric powder
9. 4 split green chilies
10. 2 tsp of Kashmiri chili powder
11. 1 tsp of red chili powder
12. seasonings: cumin seeds and mustard seeds
13. handful of coriander leaves
14. salt to taste
15. 2 tsp of oil
16. couple of pinches of roasted fenugreek powder

Method

1. Cook the channa dal either on the stove top or in a pressure cooker. Take care not to cook it to mush.
2. In a wide mouthed and slightly deep pot add the oil and when hot add the seasonings. When the mustard starts to pop add the onions and slit green chilies.
3. Saute the onions till they turn translucent. Add in the ginger and garlic and saute for a minute.
4. Add in the tomatoes and saute till they turn mushy. Add the turmeric and chili powder.
5. Add the diced bottle gourd and potatoes, saute for 3-4 minutes. Add 1 cup of water and cook till the potatoes and bottle gourd are completely cooked. Takes about 10 minutes or so.
6. Add in the cooked channa dal and salt. Let cook for another 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle the coriander leaves and the fenugreek powder.

Serve with rice or even with chapathis.

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