BITTER GOURD PITLAI

INGREDIENTS:

Bitter gourd- 250gms
Tamarind- a small lime size
Turmeric powder- half sp
Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
Curry leaves- a handful
Chopped tomato- half cup
Tuar dal- half cup
Bengal gram- 2 tbsp
Green gram- 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil- 4 tbsp

Fry the following ingredients in a tsp of oil to golden brown colour and grind them to a fine paste:

Red chillies-6
Coriander seeds- 2 tbsp
Bengal grams- 1 tbsp
Asafetida- a small piece
Fenugreek seeds- 1/2 sp
Shredded coconut- 1 cup

Procedure:

Soak the tamarind in a cup of water and extract its juice. Cut the bitter gourd in to small pieces and cook them in the tamarind water with the turmeric powder. When they are half-cooked, add the cooked dals, salt and the ground paste. When the bitter gourd pieces are fully cooked put off the fire. Heat a small pan and add the oil. Add the mustard seeds and when they splutter add the curry leaves and the tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes until they are mashed. Ad this to the pitlai and mix well Cook the pitlai on slow fire for a few minutes.