Dudhi Chana Ni Dal

This dal is an authentic everyday meal in a lot of Gujarati households. It is made by cooking bottle gourd (dudhi) with split gram lentils (chana dal) along with commonly used Indian spices. The combination of the bottle gourd and split gram goes so well together and makes a perfect wholesome dinner.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30-40 minutes

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 cup Bengal Split Gram lentils (chana dal)

2 tbsp. oil

¼ tsp mustard seeds

½ tsp cumin seeds

1 small dry red chilli

1 medium sized onion finely chopped

Salt to taste

1 large bottle gourd (dudhi peeled and cut into small pieces)

3 tsp ginger paste (1 tsp in boil)

2 tsp garlic paste

¼ tsp turmeric

1 tsp chilli powder

3-4 tsp coriander cumin powder

1 chopped fresh tomato

2 tbsp. Passata

1 tsp sugar

¼ tsp black pepper

1 cup water

Fresh coriander for garnish

Instructions

Wash the dal a few times until the water runs quite clear.

Add 1/2 tsp salt ,1 tsp ginger paste, 3-4 cups of boiling water and boil dal for about 20-30 minutes until it is cooked, but not mushy. Do not drain out all the water.

Alternatively, you can pressure cook the dal for 15-20 minutes.

While the dal is boiling, in another saucepan, heat oil and add mustard seeds.

When they start to pop, add cumin seeds and dried red chilli.

Stir in the onions, add salt to taste and cook onions until slightly golden.

Add the Bottle gourd (dudhi) and cook for about 5 minutes until it is almost cooked.

Then add the rest of the ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric, chilli powder and coriander cumin powder and mix well.

Sauté spices for a couple of minutes.

Next, put in the chopped tomatoes, passata and sugar with a splash of water.

Cover pan and leave to cook until tomatoes have softened.

Pour in the cooked dal and a little more water if required.

Stir well and leave to cook further for 5-10 minutes until it is a lovely medium consistency.

Add the black pepper and garnish with the coriander and serve.

P.S I like to eat thsi dal with bhakri which is a round bread made out of whole wheat flour.