Sorakaya-Tomato Pappu (Bottlegourd-Tomato Dal)

 

Ingredients

Toor dal - 1 cup (washed & soaked in warm water for 1/2 hr)

Sorakaya - 3 cups, chopped 1" cubes (peel the skin & chop)

Tomatoes - 3 medium, roughly chopped

Onion - 1 medium, roughly chopped

Green chillies - 4

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Salt - 1 tsp (adjust per taste)

Water - 1 cup

Amchur powder - 2 tsp

 

Seasoning/Popu:

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Dried red chillies - 2, tear and deseed

Garlic - 2 cloves, minced

Curry leaves - sprig

 

Oil - 2 tsp

Ghee - 2 tsp (optional)

Method

1. Pressure cook toor dal, sorakaya, tomatoes, onion, green chillies with turmeric, salt and 1 cup water for upto 4 whistles. 
2. When pressure is released, remove the lid and add amchur powder, adjust salt.
3. In a small saucepan, heat 2 tsp oil for seasoning. When oil is hot, add mustard seeds. When they start crackling, add rest of the ingredients called for under seasoning. Fry for just a few seconds and add this seasoning to dal mixture.

Stir in 2 tsp ghee for that perfect taste! Serve with warm rice!