Pitlai

By Pooja Sanghavi

Mar, 31st

591

Servings
3 persons
Cook Time
30 minutes
Ingredients
11 - 13

Ingredients

  • 2 med bitter gourds ("karela")
  • 3/4 can chickpeas
  • 1/2 cup cooked toovar dal
  • 3 green chillies slit
  • 1 1/2 tspn tamarind paste
  • 3-4 red dry chillies
  • 2 tspns urad dal
  • 1 1/2 tspn coriander seeds
  • 1/2 cup grated coconut
  • few peppercorns
  • a little jaggery or sugar
  • turmeric, salt to taste
  • mustard seeds, curry leaves, oil for seasoning

Instructions

  • Slit bitter gourd into four quarters and cut 1/2 inch thick pieces across. In a little oil, saute cut bitter gourd and green chillies. Add 2 cups water, tamarind, turmeric and salt
  • Let simmer until bitter gourd are tender. Add chickpeas and jaggery/sugar.
  • While bitter gourd are cooking, in another pan sprinkle a little oil and fry coriander seeds, urad dal, red chillies and peppercorns until well roasted. Add coconut, stir a min or two and then grind in a blender.
  • Add a little tomato paste if handy for color.
  • Blend in cocunut paste into the bitter gourd-tamarind mixture. Add the dal. Mix well and reheat a till it begins to simmer. Take off stove.
  • Pour seasoning on top.