Gram or gram dal (lentil) is full of protein and facilitates healthy growth for children. Hence, it is best to include lentils in cooking and serve it as often as possible to children when they are growing. This recipe is simple and tasty, yet full of nutrition.
Ingredients:
- 50 gram lentil
- 400 gms diced bottle gourd
- 250 gms diced tomatoes or 200ml tomato puree
- 1 tbsp jaggery
- 3 or 4 kokum
- 1tbsp cooking oil
- 1tsp mustard seeds
- Pinch of asafoetida
- 1tsp red chilli powder
- 1tsp ginger garlic paste
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- A few curry leaves
- ½ glass water
- Chopped coriander leaves
Method:
Cut bottle gourd vegetable into square pieces / dices. Wash lentil and bottle gourd dices thoroughly. Heat 1tbsp cooking oil in a pressure pan. Add mustard seeds in it. Add asafoetida, red chilli powder, ginger garlic paste and turmeric powder when mustard seeds start popping. Then add tomato puree in it. Add lentil, diced bottle gourd, water and salt in it. Cover the pressure pan with a lid and allow three whistles. Open and add kokum and jaggery when steam settles. Switch on the gas and boil for at least 10 minutes to mix and dissolve the taste of kokum and jaggery – sweet and sour.
Try to crush lentils a little to thicken the gravy. It is now ready to be served.
Remove in a serving bowl and sprinkle coriander leaves on it.
Serve with rotis / indian breads, rice and salad.