Easy Dudhi Chana Dal (Bottle Gourd and Split Chickpea)

Easy Dudhi Chana Dal (Bottle Gourd and Split Chickpea)

• R.Kulkarni M.D.

Ingredients-

• 1 cup chana dal, washed and soaked in hot water 2 hours
• 1 medium bottle gourd ( called dudhi or lauki ), peeled, in 1 inch cubes
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1 minced green Thai chili or to taste
• 1/2 tsp hing ( asafoetida ), divided
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1-2 tbsp peanut oil or any cooking oil
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tbsp minced cilantro
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• About 2 cups water
•  salt to taste 
• 1 tsp lime/lemon juice
• ( Optional : 2 tsp jaggery or brown sugar )

Instructions-

1. Place the dal and chopped gourd in separate cooker containers. Add the turmeric, ginger, green chili, and half the hing to dal. Add water to make up about 2 cups ( roughly double the amount of dal ).  Add 1/4 cup water to the chopped gourd.
2. Pressure cook both in a cooker for about 2 minutes. ( The reason for soaking the dal is to be able to pressure cook both with the same cooking time.) Let the pressure drop naturally.
3. Heat the oil, sizzle the cumin seeds a few seconds, add the remaining hing and immediately the chopped onion. Brown slightly and add the cooked dal and gourd.
4. Add garam masala, salt and simmer for 5 minutes. Mix in lime juice and jaggery if using. Top with minced cilantro. Serve hot with rice or as part of a meal.

Note :  For the initial steps, you can cook the chopped gourd in the microwave and the dal on the stove top if not using a pressure cooker.

Hing imparts a subtle umami flavor and helps make lentils easy to digest.