Lauki Dal

Namaskara!

Feel like having something light and healthy for dinner? A simple dal with loads of “lauki”(sorekaayi) in it sounds healthy and light right? Too many questions ! Check out this recipe.

Ingredients: Makes a large bowl of dal

1. Toor Dal – Togari bele – 1 Cup
2. Lauki – Bottle gourd – Sorekaayi – Chopped Fine – 300 gm
3. Green Chilli – 1
4. Ginger – Chopped- 1″ piece
5. Hing – Asfoetida – A pinch
6. Black Pepper Seeds – 4-5
7. Mustard – 1 Tsp
8. Jeera – 1Tsp
9. Coriander Seed Powder – Dhania Powder – 2 tsp
10. Turmeric – 1/2 Tsp
11. Curry Leaves – 1 Sprig
12. Oil – 1 1/2 Tbsp
13. Sugar 1/2 Tsp
14. Salt – As required

Method:

1. Wash the toor dal. Pour 3 Cups of water and pressure cook it for 3 whistles.
2. Grind roughly the green chilli, ginger, hing and pepper seeds.
3. In a pan, heat oil. Add the mustard and jeera. Let it splutter.
4. Add the curry leaves. Drop in the lauki. Saute for 2 minutes.
5. Add the crushed green chilli and ginger. Add the sugar and saute.
6. Put the turmeric, coriander seed powder. Cover a lid and let it cook in its own steam.
7. Pour the dal in and let it all come together. Add salt.  Boil for 5 minutes.

To serve:

1. Put coriander leaves on top.
2. Serve hot with phulkas or rice and ghee.

Culinary Secrets:

1. Put a tsp of ghee, a pinch of hing and a little turmeric when pressure cooking the dal. Gives a very nice flavour.
2. Grind/Crush the green chilli, ginger, hing and pepper in stone mortar. Old methods are the best !

Advertisement