Bottle Gourd Kootu (without coconut)

Ingredients :

• Bottle Gourd - 1
• Toor Dal - 250 g
• Onion - 2
• Tomato - 3
• Ginger-Garlic Paste - 2 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Green Chili - 5
• Curry leaves - 2 sprig
• Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Oil - 3tbsp
• Salt to taste
• Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method :

• Wash and pressure cook toor dal.
• Peel the skin and remove the centre soft portion of bottle gourd. Finely chop them.
• In a pan/kadai heat oil. Add in mustard seeds and let it splutter.
• Add finely chopped onions, slit green chili, curry leaves and saute till onions are translucent.
• Add ginger-garlic paste and fry till raw smell goes away. Add turmeric powder and mix well.
• Add chopped bottle gourd, water and let it cook.
• Add chopped tomatoes, salt and cook till they are soft.
• Add cooked dal, required water and let it cook till everything gets combined well.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with steamed rice. It goes well with roti/ dosa/ idli too.