Pumpkin or lauki is usually not eaten with great relish, especially by the younger members of the family. Neither is this vegetable usually the one chosen to serve guests. However, this variation of lentil and lauki is sure to make everyone eating it change their minds. The way the lauki blends with the lentil and the manner in which the subtle aroma and flavor of the spices lend themselves to the dish make it a gourmet offering. Gujarat is famous for this variation and with the lauki not even visible it is a great way of giving the children the fiber and protein that it is known for.
Ingredients:
2 cups of diced lauki or bottle gourd
2 tomatoes chopped very fine
1 cup of split gram or chana dal (washed well and soaked in hot water for around an hour)
1 onion chopped very fine
1 tsp of ginger and garlic paste
1/4 tsp each of cumin seeds
Asafetida
Turmeric powder and red chili powder
Salt to taste and cooking medium as per personal preference
Popular Accompaniments:
You can serve the dish as an accompaniment with rice, roti or puris. It can also be eaten plain as a soup or dried up further to help you wrap it up in bread or rotis to carry along on a journey. You can substitute the lauki with any vegetable of your choice or the lentil.
Preparation:
Mix together the lauki or bottle gourd, split gram or chana dal, turmeric powder, red chili powder and salt in a large mixing bowl.
Mix the ingredients well and then put them into a pressure cooker.
With around 4 cups of water, cook the dal mix for around 15 minutes.
Main Cooking:
In a heavy bottom vessel, heat the cooking medium.
Add the cumin seeds.
When the spice lends its flavor and aroma to the cooking medium, add the onion.
Do not fry the onion.
On a low flame sauté till each piece is translucent.
Next, stir in the ginger and garlic paste.
Mix the ingredients well for around a minute or two.
Add the chopped tomatoes and sauté for a minute.
Ensure that the tomatoes are soft and pulpy. This is your seasoning.
Now take the lentil and bottle gourd pulp out into a serving dish.
Add the tempering and in the microwave allow the mixture to blend for a minute. You could do this in another heavy bottom pan too.
