Snake Gourd and Channa Dal Curry

My first post in 2014...a simple everyday curry with South-Indian flavours.

Ingredients

1 cup channa dal,

3 cups chopped snake gourd,

1 cup coconut,

12 sambar onions,

1 tsp powdered turmeric,

1 tsp cumin seeds,

1 tbsp chilli powder,

Salt to taste,

2 tsps coconut oil,

1 tsp mustard seeds,

3 chopped red chillies,

2 sprigs curry leaves

Method

Wash and soak the channa dal for about 3-4 hours.

Grind the coconut, sambar onions, turmeric powder, cumin seeds and chilli powder into a fine paste.

Mix the soaked channa dal, chopped snake gourd, prepared paste, salt and about 2 cups of water. Cook till done.

Heat the oil and when hot add the mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds splutter, add the chopped red chillies and curry leaves. After a minute pour this over the curry and cover with a tight fitting lid to allow the flavours to permeate.

Goes well with plain rice.