Pitlai

Pitlai

Ingredients:

2 medium bitter gourds ("karela")pavakai

3/4 can chickpeas

1/2 cup cooked toovar dal

3 green chillies slit

1 1/2 tspn tamarind paste

3-4 red dry chillies

2 tspns urad dal

1 1/2 tspn coriander seeds

1/2 cup grated coconut

few peppercorns

a little jaggery or sugar

turmeric, salt to taste

mustard seeds, curry leaves, oil for seasoning

Preparation:

Slit bitter gourd into four quarters and cut 1/2 inch thick pieces across.

In a little oil, saute cut bitter gourd and green chillies. Add 2 cups water, tamarind, turmeric and salt. Let simmer

until bitter gourd are tender. Add chickpeas and jaggery/sugar.

While bitter gourd are cooking, in another pan sprinkle a little oil and fry coriander seeds, urad dal, red chillies

and peppercorns until well roasted. Add coconut, stir a min or two and then grind in a blender. Add a little

tomato paste if handy for color.

Blend in cocunut paste into the bitter gourd-tamarind mixture. Add the dal. Mix well and reheat a till it begins to

simmer. Take off stove.you can use katrikai instead of pavakai....