Laucki Chana Dal is is a healthful, wholesome lentil and vegetable main dish. Having a low glycemic index, it is especially good for diabetics.
Ingredients1 medium bottle gourd (laucki, ghiya, doodhi)
1/2 cup yellow split gram (chana dal)
2 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
1/8 tsp asafetida (hing)
2 whole red chilies
1 tsp ginger shredded (adrak)
1/4 tsp turmeric (haldi)
1/2 tsp chili powder, adjust to taste
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp mango powder (amchoor)
2 tbsp cilantro finely chopped (hara dhania)
1 cup water used as needed
Method* Wash and soak chana dal for one hour or more.
* Peel and wash laucki (bottle gourd). Cut into half-inch cubes.
* Heat the oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if the seed cracks right away, the oil is ready. Add the cumin seeds.
* When seeds start to crack, add the asafetida and whole red chilies.
* Stir for a few seconds. Add ginger, turmeric, and chili powder and stir for a few seconds.
* Add the chana dal, bottle gourd, salt, and one cup of water (adjust as needed to desired gravy thickness; bottle guard varies in moisture content).
* Cook the chana dal until soft. About fifteen minutes. Turn off the heat and add the mango powder, garam masala, and cilantro. Stir and cover the pan for a few minutes before serving.