Snake Gourd/Padavalanga Erissery

Ingredients 

• Moong Dal - 1 cup
• Padavalanga/Snake gourd cut into thin pieces – 2 cups
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Red chilly powder -1/4 tsp
• Salt- as needed
• Grated coconut – 1 cup + 1 tsp for garnishing
• Cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp
• Green Chillies – 3
• Ghee -1 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1tsp
• Urid dal split – 1/2 tsp
• Dry Red Chillies – 3
• Curry leaves -1 sprig
• Shallots chopped – 1

Preparation 

 

1)Pressure cook dal and snake gourd pieces together by adding necessary water, salt, red chilly powder and turmeric powder.

 

2)Mash it well with a spatula and keep aside. Now grind together 1 cup of coconut, green chillies and cumin seeds into a medium fine paste and add it to the cooked dal. Turn the stove on and cook it for 2 or 3 minutes, stirring continuously. Add more water accordingly.

 

3)Heat a pan and dry fry 1 tsp of grated coconut till brown in color and keep it aside. Now heat ghee in another pan and allow mustard seeds and urid dal to splutter. Add shallots, red chillies and curry leaves into it and fry till brown. Add it to the dal along with the browned coconut. Mix well and serve hot.