Chana Dal-Lauki (Bottle Gourd and Split Horse gram Savory)

Chana Dal-Lauki

Lauki (bottle gourd) made with chana dal(Split Black chick pea or split Bengal gram) is w Lauki (bottle gourd) made with chana dal(Split Black chick pea or split Bengal gram) is whole some food and has great taste. It can be paired roti/parantha/steamed rice. I personally prefer to have it with hot roti/ phulka.

Children (sometimes elders too) make great fuss when served with savory of bottle gourd, try Lauki made with chana dal I am sure they will love it.  

Preparation Time: 10 minutes hole some food and has great taste. It can be paired roti/parantha/steamed rice. I personally prefer to have it with hot roti/ phulka.

Children (sometimes elders too) make great fuss when served with savory of bottle gourd, try Lauki made with chana dal I am sure they will love it.  

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes

Servings: 4 large helpings

Nutritional Value (Approx. Value of total cooked savory from below given ingredients)

Energy: 170cal.

Carbs:    35 gm

Fats:       1.6gm

Sugars:   2.6 gm

Protein:   8.0 gm

Sodium:  12 mg +from salt

Potassium: 160 mg

Dietary Fibers: 12gm

Vitamins _­­: Rich in Folates, B­6, B12, C, A

Calcium 85 mg

Extremely rich in micro nutrients like Manganese, magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper

Lauki has tremendous health benefits. It helps in digestion and helps those who suffer with constipation.

It is helpful in hypertension, keeps heart healthy.

It is rich in vitamin C thus helps in keeping skin supple and soft.

It is very refreshing and cooling.

Apart from all this the fibers and micro nutrients present in it make it a very healthy vegetable.

Helps in weight loss.

Chana dal is rich in protein, Iron and other micro nutrients.

Thus when the goodness of Lauki and chana dal will come together along with delectable taste then there is no excuse for not making it and eating.

So let us start.

Ingredients Required For Making Chana dal-Lauki:

• 500 gm Lauki
• 30 gm Chana dal
• 50-60 gm Red Tomato (2medium size)
• 1Teaspoon Grated Ginger (or ginger paste)
• 2 Twigs of Curry leafs
• 1Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
• 2-3 cm piece of Cinnamon
• 1 Green Chili
• 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Ghee (clarified butter) / any cooking oil
• Salt to taste
• Fresh green coriander leafs for garnishing.

Direction For Making Chana dal-Lauki:

• Wash chana dal and soak it for 2-3 hours.
• Wash and peel Lauki. Cut it to 1-2 cm size pieces.

Chopped Lauki

• Wash and make paste of tomatoes.

Tomato Paste

• Drain water from soaked chana dal and keep aside.
• In a pressure cooker heat 1tea spoon ghee. When the ghee is hot add
• Cumin seeds
• Curry leafs
• Cinnamon piece. Let the seeds splutter. It will take roughly 30 sec.
• Add ginger and pieces of green chili. Cook for 20-30 sec on medium flame.
• The curry leafs will look crisp, chili and ginger will give nice cooked aroma.

Tempering Ready

• Add Lauki and cook for 1-2 minutes with continuous stirring keeping the heat on medium heat. Lauki will start losing its moisture and start wilting,

Lauki cooking in ghee and spices

• Add chana dal and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium heat with continuous stirring.

Chana dal being cooked with Lauki

• Continuous stirring very important for it will make sure that the spices, chana dal, Lauki do not stick to the bottom of cooker.
• Add Tomato paste and cook on medium heat with continuous stirring for 2-3 minutes. 

Tomato Paste added

• Tomato paste will change the color and the water content due to Lauki and tomatoes will become less.
• Add
• Salt
• Turmeric Powder
• Red Chili Powder
• Mix nicely.

Spices added before adding water

• Add 150 ml.water. Mix and put the lid of cooker with weight. Bring the heat to high. When the pressure is built in cooker bring the heat to low and cook for 8-10 minute, or till three whistle of cooker.
• Switch off the heat and allow the cooker to cool. When the cooker is cooled open it and with a ladle give a good twirl.
• If you feel water is less or you want the cooked chana dal-lauki little more liquidy then add water as per your liking , give nice boil to water added cooked chana dal-lauki.
• Take out in a serving bowl and Garnish with Chopped fresh green coriander leafs.

• Serve hot with Roti/Parantha/Steamed rice with curd or riata as side dish.

http://jyotsna-pant.blogspot.com/2011/10/roti-indian-bread-no-oil-dry-so-low-on.html

Chana Dal-Lauki

Enjoy tasty, healthy meal.

Tips:

• Always wash vegetables before chopping.
• Stirring continuously is very important to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the cooker.
• Make sure how hot the chili powder and green chili is before adding red chili powder.
• Add salt little less because lesser  salt in chana dal-lauki makes sure the subtle sweet taste of lauki is retained.

Suggested Variations:

• Garlic paste can be added along with ginger.
• Bay leafs can be added while tempering instead of curry leafs.