Monday, March 23, 2009

Bottlegourd sambar

This is another variety of sambar prepared without sambar powder or Red chillies.It is something similar to my another post 'village paruppu kulambu'.Indian medicine prescribes people suffering from arthritis , menorrhagia and few other problems to avoid tamarind for a certain length of time (or) while taking Indian medicines .
But many of the Indian dishes are based on tamarind only. So our ancestors used to prepare these kind of curry (kulambu) as 'pathiya kulambu ' (meaning - the diet curry) without tamarind and spices. Many a times people have to sacrifice the sour taste completely to get cured in such cases. They never prefered tempering also:)
But my version is a tasty but mild sambar.


Bottle gourd Sambar / Surai kai Sambar / Surai kai puli Illatha sambar / Sambar without tamarind and red chilly




Ingredients:
Bottle gourd - 1 (350 gm)
Thoor dhal (Red gram)- 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Onion - 1
Green chilly - 5
Tomato - 2 (50 gms)
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
garlic - 3 pods
asafoetida - a pinch
Salt - to taste - 1 brig
curry leaf
Sesame oil - 2 tsp

Method:
1.Wash and clean the red gram (Toor dhal). Pressure cook the dhal with chopped onion, garlic, green chilly, Turmeric powder and asafoetida to 5 whistles.

2.Wash the bottle gourd. Slice it in to rounds. Remove the skin and chop them into small cubes. Add 2 cups of water and cook it covered.

3.Microwave the tomatoes with skin On. (Or)Put the tomatoes on boiling water.Remove the skin.
Mash the cooked tomatoes and add it to the cooked bottle gourd.

4.Mash the cooked dhal along with cumin seeds and add it to the cooked vegetables.
Add salt to taste.

5.Tempering:
Heat 1 tsp oil in a wok. Add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds. After it starts crackling add 1 brig curry leaves and a handful of chopped onion.
Fry real good , till you get a nice aroma and red color in the onions.
Run it over the cooked dhal + vegetables and bring to boil.
Immediately switch off the flame after it starts to boil.

Bottle gourd sambar is ready!

Serving suggestions:

Good to go with Idly , dosa, roti or on cooked rice.
Makes nearly 1 liter of sambar.
cooking time : 30 minutes.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Simple pathiya kulambu :) Looks yummy!

FH said...

Simple and delicious, looks good. I have to grow some Bottle gourd tis Summer! :)

Priya Suresh said...

Sambhar with bottlegourd looks delicious..lovely dish!

Lavanya said...

I too use bottle gourd in sambhar..but along with taht i will use other veggies too..sambhar looks good vicky!!

Trupti said...

Never used bottle gourd in sambar. Sambar looks very delicious..will try this next time

Nandinis food said...

Sambar with green chillies looks simple and delicious! Bottle gourds are good in summer time. In my mil's house, they cook it differently.

Manju said...

Easy and delicious! looks really yummy!

Gita Jaishankar said...

The sambar looks yummy with all its seasonings, love the simple ingredients you have used Viki :)

Yasmeen said...

I like this clear sambhar spiced with green chillies,I made a spicy one yesterday,hopefully be posting it next week:)

Deepa Hari said...

Never tried bottle gourd in sambar...nice recipe...simple and delicious Viki.

Cham said...

My hus is great fan of sambar he should love this bottlegourd!

Anonymous said...

Havent tried a sambar with bottlegourd yet...we are sambar fans too vicky..lemme try this next time.

Raks said...

Have never tried bottle gourd sambhar before,sounds yummy!

Shama Nagarajan said...

simple delicious sambar

Chitra said...

simple,tasty sambhar,will try it out:)

sriharivatsan said...

Never used bottlegourd in sambar..Something new...Looks good too...

Purva Desai said...

Simple and healthy sambhar.....

Chutneytales said...

Haven't tried bottlegourd sambar..It looks simple n tasty :)

Finla said...

I have never had smbar like this, it looks yumm.

Malar Gandhi said...

Nice way to clense the system. Love dhall, it will be mild and nice! I am happy that you could find even suraikkai there!:)

Now the watermark is bit visible, good ra.

Premyscakes said...

never tried with sambar, looks simple yet delicious.

Varsha Vipins said...

Thats a new one to me..Simple n yum..:)

Preety said...

love sambhar with rice..looks gr8

Poornima Nair said...

Thats an easy sambar...looks delicious.

Meenal Mehta said...

delicious looking sambhar , easy to make too :)

Indian Khana said...

Looks gud..never tried sambar though with bottle gouard....

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