Marrow and lentils curry
recipe Image
 
Cooking Bottle gourd(Dudhi) with spices and lentils makes a tastier side-dish.
Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 10-15 mins

Serves : Family of four
Ingredients:
  • Bottle gourd (Dudhi) or Marrow - 1 small or 1/2 large
  • Mung dal - 75g or 1/3 of a teacup
  • Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
  • Dry red chilli - 2 for medium spicy or 3 for very spicy
  • Grated coconut - 2 tblsp
  • Cumin (jeera) - 1/2 tsp
  • Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few (optional)
  • Oil - 2 tsp
  • Ghee - 2 tsp
  • Black Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Salt - to taste
  • Water - as required

Method:
  1. Rinse the dal and drain it.
  2. Peel off the vegetable, cut it diagonally and chop it into 2cm cubes.
  3. ** Heat a pressure cooker pan on the stove.
  4. ** Add dal, about 150ml of water and half the turmeric powder.
  5. ** Cover and pressure cook. Switch off after first whistle and open when the pressure is gone. Do not open the pressure cooker when there is any pressure left.
  6. In a separate pan, cook the vegetable with salt, water and rest of the turmeric powder.
  7. Heat a frying pan.
  8. Add coconut, cumin (jeera), fennel seeds and chilli. Fry for about 1-2 minutes.
  9. Grind them when they are cold enough.
  10. Add the ground mix and cooked dal to the pan of cooked vegetables and let it cook for about 1-2 minutes.
  11. Heat a frying pan. Add oil. Add mustard seeds and curry leaves.
  12. Add the above seasoning to the cooked vegetables and dhal pan.
  13. Add Ghee, stir and serve.
** - If the pressure cooker is not available, replace the steps 4-5 above starting with the symbol ** with the following steps and continue to step 6 above.

  1. Heat a 2 ltr saucepan on a high heat.
  2. Add dal, about 350ml of water and half the turmeric powder.
  3. Once the water starts boiling, simmer the heat, cover and cook for about 35-40 minutes. Leave the lid ajar to stop the water overflowing.
  4. Open the lid, stir few times and make sure there is enough water left for the dal to be cooked.

Notes:
It is suitable for Rice and <a href="/recipes/Sambar">Sambar</a>/<a href="/recipes/Rasam">Rasam</a>/ <a href="/recipes/Dhal">Dhal</a>/<a href="/recipes/Tamarind-egg-Curry">Tamarind Egg Curry</a>/<a href="/recipes/Tamarind-egg-omlette-curry">Tamarind egg omlette curry</a>/<a href="/recipes/Garlic-curry">Garlic curry</a>. Please try <a href="/recipes/Spinach-Dhal-curry-02">Spinach & Dhal curry 02</a>/<a href="/recipes/Marrow-Dhal-curry">Marrow Dhal curry</a>/<a href="/recipes/Marrow-stirfry">Marrow fry</a>/<a href="/recipes/Green-Tomatoes-and-lentils-curry">Green Tomatoes and lentils curry</a> for a variation. Marrow can be replaced by pumpkin/Snake gourd/Green Tomatoes.