Lauki Chana Dal | Bottle gourd chana dal sabzi

Lauki Chana Dal is a tasty preparation made with bottle gourd (lauki), chana dal and potato.

Bottle gourd is regarded as one of the healthiest vegetables. But it is not liked by many due to its bland taste. However, this recipe of bottle gourd is sure to change your way of looking at it.

Bottle gourd is rich in dietary fibres, vitamins, minerals and has a cooling effect on our body.   In Ayurveda, it is recommended to consume bottle gourd for better digestion, weight loss and for maintaining a healthy heart. I like to add a piece of bottle gourd when I  make mixed vegetable juice and Lauki (Doodhi) halwa is my go-to-recipe when I have to make a quick dessert. Coming to the recipe of Lauki Chana dal, I like to add a potato to this sabzi as it makes the gravy thick and elevates the taste. This dish pairs well with rotis as well as rice. Here’s the recipe.

Ingredients

300 grams bottle gourd, (lauki)
½ cup split Bengal gram (chana dal)
1 medium sized potato (aloo)
1 medium sized onion, chopped (pyaaz)
1 medium sized tomato, chopped (tamatar)
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
½ tsp mustard seeds (sarso | rai)
a pinch of asafoetida (hing)
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste (adrak lehsun paste)
1 tbsp red chilly powder (laal mirch)
1 tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp cumin coriander powder (dhaniya jeera powder)
1 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves (hara dhaniya)
1 tsp oil (tel)
Salt as per taste (namak)

Method 

• Wash the chana dal and soak in water for 2 hours.
• After two hours, drain the water and keep aside.
• Peel the bottle gourd and cut into 1 inch pieces.
• Peel the potato and cut into 1 inch pieces.    
• Heat 1 tsp oil in a pressure cooker.
• Add cumin seeds, mustard seeds and asafoetida.
• When the seeds start spluttering, add the chopped onions and saute for a minute. 
• Add chopped tomatoes and saute for a minute.
• Add ginger garlic paste and saute for few seconds.
• Now add chopped bottle gourd, chana dal, chopped potato and give a mix.
• Next, add turmeric powder, red chilly powder, garam masala, cumin-coriander powder, salt and mix everything well. 
• Add 1 cup water and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles. 
• Turn off the heat. Allow the steam to escape fully before opening the pressure cooker lid.
• Garnish Lauki Chana Dal with chopped coriander leaves. 
• Serve hot with rotis or rice.

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