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Lauki Chana Dal/Squash /Indian bottle gourd with bengal gram lentil.

A simple north indian curry which combines the great flavours of Lauki and Bengal gram lentil.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Medium Squash /Bottle gourd/Lauki(Peeled and cut into small pieces.
  • ½ Cup Chana Dal/BEngal gram lentils soaked and boiled for 8 minutes with ½ tsp of salt and turmeric.
  • 1 Tbsp Ginger -Garlic paste (Garlic is optional)
  • 1.5 Tbsp Mustard oil/canola oil
  • ½ Cup Diced onion(i prefer red onion )
  • ½ Cup Ripe tomato diced
  • Pinch of asafoetida
  • 1 Tsp Fenugreek seeds(in my family we use fenugreek but if you don't like you can certainly use cumin seeds.
  • 1 Dry red chill
  • 1 Tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
  • 1 Tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 Tsp Garam masala powder
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 2 Black cardamoms
  • ½ inch Cinnamon sticks
  • Salt to taste
  • ½ Cup water(for cooking)
  • 1 Tsp Cumin powder
  • 1 Tsp Coriander powder

Method
 

  1. Soak Chana dal for 30 minutes and boil it in the microwave for 8 minutes with little salt and turmeric.You can use stove top as well . just keep it little firm . Strain and keep it aside.
  2. Take a instant pot and on the saute mode. When it shows hot on display add oil to it .
  3. Let it stay on heat mode for 1 minute till the pungent flavour of mustard oil is gone.
  4. Add cinnamon stick ,black cardamom, fenugreek seeds,bay leaf and red dry chilli.
  5. Let it crackle /sizzle for 30 seconds.
  6. Add onion to it . saute it . Add ginger garlic paste to it .Fry for 2 minutes.
  7. Add tomatoes and all the spices. Fry it for 1 minute and mix it well .
  8. Add Lauki and Chana dal to it .Mix it well.
  9. Add ½ cup of water and cook on pressure cook (manually for 7) minutes.
  10. If using stove top method it will take around 15-20 minutes on slow to medium flame .Cook it covered for better output.
  11. If using pressure cooker cook till 2 whistles(on medium /slow flame)
  12. Let the pressure release naturally .If you think it is more liquidy then cook it on saute mode till consistency is up to your liking.
  13. Garnish with cilantro ,taste the salt and serve with roti or rice.
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