Kumbalanga Parippu Curry | Ash Gourd Dal

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup toor dal (washed and soaked for 10 minutes)
• 1 medium-sized tomatoes ((optional))
• 1 garlic clove (smashed)
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 1/2 cup water
• salt to taste
• 1/2 cup grated coconut
• 6 to 8 mini shallots (peeled and chopped roughly)
• 1 garlic clove (smashed)
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds ((you may use cumin seeds instead))
• 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
• water ( to help the grinding process)
• 300 grams ash gourd ((measured ready to cook))
• 2 to 3 green chillies (slit)
• a few curry leaves (torn)
• water ((to cover the vegetable))
• salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds ((optional))
• 2 dried red chillies
• a few curry leaves

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Pressure cook or boil the lentils ---

2. 2

   Pressure cook or boil the lentils: Add the soaked toor dal, garlic clove, turmeric powder, tomato if using, enough water and salt in a pressure cooker and pressure cook for 10 to 15 minutes on medium flame or until the lentils are cooked to soft. You may pot cook the lentils until soft and mushy.

3. 3

   --- Prepare the coconut paste ---

4. 4

   Prepare the coconut paste: Add the grated coconut, garlic clove, mini shallots, fennel seeds or cumin seeds, red chilli powder and a little water into a small chutney maker and process to a fine paste.

5. 5

   --- Prepare curry ---

6. 6

   Prepare curry: Open the pressure cooker (only after it is cooled and pressure released) and transfer the cooked lentils into a deep pot.

7. 7

   Prepare curry: Heat that deep pot on low to medium flame and add the chopped ash gourd, green chillies, curry leaves, enough water to cover the vegetable and salt to taste

8. 8

   Prepare curry: Cover with a lid and cook this on low to medium flame for 10 minutes or until the ash gourd pieces are all cooked through (they should start to look transparent)

9. 9

   Prepare curry: Open and add the prepared coconut paste and add more water as required and salt as per taste. Bring this to boil and then switch off.

10. 10

    --- Prepare the tempering ---

11. 11

    Prepare the tempering: Heat the coconut oil in a small tadka pan. Add the mustard seeds and let them splutter. Next, add the cumin seeds (optional) and let them sizzle.

12. 12

    Prepare the tempering: Tear and add the dried red chillies and curry leaves and fry until crisp. Switch off and stir this into the prepared curry.

13. 13

    Serve hot Kumbalanga parippu curry with warm rice or ari dosha or chapati.