Bitter gourd Koottu.

Bitter gourd koottu is a good side dish for sambar , more kulambu etc. This koottu has very little oil and it will not show much bitter taste .
Ingredients:
Bitter gourd - 200 gms.(2 numbers,big size)
onion- 1/2 (chopped)
curry leaves - 1 brig.
Red chillies- 2 numbers.
mustard seeds- 1/2 teaspoon
urid dhal- 1/2 teaspoon.
shredded coconut - 2 spoons.
oil- 1 tablespoon
Tamarind - 1 gooseberry size
salt to taste
Method:
Choose the bitter gourd to be very dark in color. Slit the bitter gourd into two and remove the seeds. chop it finely. Extract juice from tamarind.soak it in tamarind juice for 2 hours or even better the whole night before preparing the food.
In a frying pan , add oil and put mustard seeds and urid dhal. after the mustard seeds crackle add onion, red chillies and curry leaves. wait till the onion turns golden brown and add the bitter guard along with tamarind juice. Then add salt .cover and cook.
After the bitter gourd gets cooked , add cumin seeds and grated coconuts.stir fry and put off flame.
serve hot with yellow pumpkin sambar.