Kaddu Ka Dalcha

Ingredients:

Tuvar/Red gram dal – 60 gm

Bottle Gourd/Kaddu – 100 gm cut into long pieces

Slit green chilli - 2

Curry Leaves – 4-5

Tomato – 1 medium finely chopped

Onion – 1 small roughly chopped

Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tsp

Cinnamon stick - 1

Shahjeera - 1/4 tsp

Bayleaf - 1

Garam masala powder – ½ tsp

Oil – 2 tsp

Chilli powder - 1/4 tsp

Turmeric powder – a pinch

Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp

Tamarind pulp – 5 ml

Salt - 1/4 tsp or as per dietician’s advice

Water to pressure cook the dal

Pressure cook the dal with water for 4-5 whistles. As Bottle Gourd is low in Potassium, you can steam the vegetable and keep it aside.
Heat oil in a pan and temper with curry leaves, shahjeera, bay leaf, and cinnamon. After it stops crackling, add the onion and sauté till light brown in color.
Now add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, and red chili powder.
Add the chopped tomato and continue to sauté till they are mashed.
Add the boiled dal, bottle gourd, salt as advised, and tamarind pulp.
Simmer on low flame for 2-3 minutes. Add little water if required for the desired consistency to have it with rice.
The dal is usually not watery but a semi-gravy consistency.