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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
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4

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

Instructions
 

  • 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.
  • Take a instant pot and on the saute mode. When it shows hot on display add oil to it .
  • Let it stay on heat mode for 1 minute till the pungent flavour of mustard oil is gone.
  • Add cinnamon stick ,black cardamom, fenugreek seeds,bay leaf and red dry chilli.
  • Let it crackle /sizzle for 30 seconds.
  • Add onion to it . saute it . Add ginger garlic paste to it .Fry for 2 minutes.
  • Add tomatoes and all the spices. Fry it for 1 minute and mix it well .
  • Add Lauki and Chana dal to it .Mix it well.
  • Add ½ cup of water and cook on pressure cook (manually for 7) minutes.
  • If using stove top method it will take around 15-20 minutes on slow to medium flame .Cook it covered for better output.
  • If using pressure cooker cook till 2 whistles(on medium /slow flame)
  • 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.
  • Garnish with cilantro ,taste the salt and serve with roti or rice.
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