Lauki Chana Daal Subzi (Bottle gourd cooked with lentils)

Mildly spiced bottle gourd and bengal gram curry

Lauki, dudhi or bottle gourd holds pride of place in the Indian Ayurveda This  is the reason why our ancestors included it in their regular diet. 

 What’s making this veggie popular these days is its benefits on the treatment of high blood pressure and heart disease.And as  Lauki is 96.1% water, so is light on the stomach and aids digestion,cure acidity,ulcers, Jaundice and reduce body weight

 It is also consumed in majority of the Indian families because of its low price and its wide availability.

Though bottle gourd is a very healthy vegetable ,but due to it's blend taste often children refuse to eat this.but  this lauki chana daal curry is my son's favourite ,so thought of posting this ,do try and make this for your kids too.Hope they will like this version of lauki 

INGREDIENTS-
preparation time-10 min
cooking time-10 min
serve-6 

• Bottle gourd-650 gms
• Bengal gram (chana daal)-1/2 cup *
• Chopped tomato-1
• Ginger-1 inch
• Lemon juice-1 tsp
• Turmeric-3/4 tsp
• Salt-1tsp
• Sugar-a pinch of 
• Fresh green  coriander-2 tbsp
• Chili flakes-1/4 tsp
• Water-2 cup

Tempering-

• Ghee (or oil)-2 tbsp
• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp
• Asafotida-1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves-6
• Whole red chili-2
• Chopped green chili-1 tsp

PROCEDURE-

1. Wash and soak chana daal in 2 cup of water for 1/2 hour.
2. Peel and chop bottle gourd in medium size pieces.
3. Heat ghee in the pressure cooker and then add cumin and all the tempering ingredients on low heat.
4. When cumin start crackling and become golden,add soaked chana daal ,bottle gourd ,tomato, chopped ginger, salt ,turmeric and chili flakes and saute for 1 minute.
5. Now add 2 cup water ,mix and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles on medium heat.
6. Open and check ,IF  daal and gourd become soft and slightly mashed then add  a pinch of sugar,mix and cook for approx 2 minute on slow flame.(if not cooked properly in 3-4 whistles then  pressure cook again for 2-3 whistles.)
7. Now open and  add lemon juice and chopped fresh coriander.
8. Serve hot with roti or paratha

NOTE-

You can also make this subzi with yellow moong daal (yellow lentil) instead of chana daal