Bottle gourd dal / Sorakaya pappu

Bottle gourd have always been an integral part of Andhra cooking.Various gourds like bottle gourd and snake gourd are incorporated into every day cooking in various recipes like dals,stir fries..etc.High in fiber content and low on calories,these vegetables are specially recommended  after about of sickness when digestive system is affected and needs to recover.Also very good for health conscious people.Mixed with dals,gourd from a complete meal combining required protein content with fiber and other necessary vitamins.

Bottle gourd dal / Sorakaya pappu

Preparation Time : 10 minutes ;
Cooking Time : 15 minutes ;
Cuisine : Andhra Cuisine

Ingredients :
Bottle gourd /sorakaya : 1 cup sorakaya pieces
Toor  Dal (Kandhipappu)  : 1 cup
Dried Red chilies : 5 - 6
Onion : 1 small
Tomato : 2 medium
Garlic : 4 cloves
Tamarind : small sized
Turmeric powder : a pinch
Oil : 1 tsp
Mustard seeds,urad dal : 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds : 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves : a few
Salt to taste
water for cooking

Method :

1. Clean the dal and keep aside.Chop onions and tomatoes.Crush the garlic or cut it into small pieces along with the skin.
2. Heat oil in a pressure cooker ,add mustard seeds,urad dal and curry leaves.Once it splutters,add onions ,red chilies and garlic.Once onion turns brown,then add dal and fry for few minutes.
3. Then add tomatoes,sorakaya pieces/bottle gourd pieces,tamarind,turmeric and add water for cooking.Cover it with lid and pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles till the dal is cooked well.
4. When the pressure is off,take the dal masher or pappu guthi ,then mash the dal well the red chilies. Add salt and cook on high flame for 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Then serve with hot rice,chapati ..... etc.

Bottle gourd dal / Sorakaya pappu

Note :

1. Normally sorakaya is mashed well and blended with the dal. But if you prefer to have bigger chunks don't overcook it.