Podalangai Kootu (Padavalanga Kootu) - Snake Gourd cooked with dal and spices

Podalangai (Tamil), Padavalanga (malayalam), Snake Gourd (English) is not a vegetable that features in our home often. Main reason is the lack of availability in US and UK unless I go to Indian stores. Plus we eat rotis mostly and I cannot eat south indian kootu as a side for roti.

I was in the Indian store to buy some mangoes and bought this at that time. It fits well for the Magic Mingle of Moong Dal and Pepper. This is one of my childhood favourites. Could see the twinkle in my husband's eyes when he ate this.. same reason.. childhood memories.



Now off to the recipe. 

Ingredients

Snake Gourd 1 long one, about 2 cups
Moong Dal 1/4 cup
Turmeric 1/4 tsp
Urad Dal 1 tbsp (whole pealed)
Pepper 3/4 tsp
Coconut 1/4 cup
Mustard 1/4 tsp
Curry leaves few
Coconut oil 1 tsp (optional)
Oil and salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Heat a pan. Add a little oil. Add the urad dal. When it starts to brown, add the pepper. Transfer to a mixie. Add the coconut and grind into a fine paste with some water.

2. Pressure cook the moong dal with 2 cups of water. Whisk and keep ready.

3. In the same pan, add the snake gourd and saute for a minute. Add 1 cup of water, turmeric and salt. Bring it to a boil and simmer till the vegetable is cooked.

4. Add the coconut paste and cooked dal. Simmer for some more time.

5. In a small pan, add the coconut oil. You can use any oil. But coconut oil gives this dish a nice smell. Add mustard and when it sputters, add the curry leaves. Add to the dal.

Serve with warm rice.

Linking this to Magic Mingle #7
Linking this to Show me your hits - lentils and legumes. Event by Sangee, hosted by Nalini
Linking this to Walk thru Memory Lane - Gayathri's event hosted by Kalyani
Linking this to Kerala Kitchen, hosted at Sun,Moon and Potatoes