Lauki Masoor (Bottle Gourd and Red Lentils)

When I was growing up, My mom never cooked this vegetable, and I never knew this existed.

After I came here, (when I was learning how to cook) I got all the veggies I could get my hands on and started Cooking. Once when my mother was visiting us, we were in the market and I picked two of these and put them in the cart, and My mom asked me, why did you buy THAT vegetable, and I casually answered that I make kootu with this and it tastes pretty good.

Then she explained that she never used to buy that since my grandpa had always said that if you at that vegetable it is equal to eating meat! So she never ate the vegetable at all. But she was very happy that I cooked it since it has a lot of nutrients!!!!


Also I have to admit somehting, I always cooked it with the seeds and I happened to see Poojas Blog about the Lauki roundup, and almost everyone;'s instructions were to remove the seeds!since I never saw anyone cook it I did not know this, so With the seeds this was not one of my fav dishes. So yesterday I made it after removing the seeds1 I have to tell you it is one my favorite foods list, I loved it.



What you need
1/2 cup - Whole Masoor - washed and soaked for 5 to 10 minutes in water
1 large Lauki - Cut in cubes after removing the seeds :)
1 and 1/2 inch - ginger- chopped
1 medium onion - chopped
2 Green Chillies - Chopped
5 cloves garlic - chopped
1 big tomatoe - chopped
1/2 teaspoon - Turmeric Powder
2 Teaspoons - Salt
1 Teaspoon - Oil
1 Teaspoon- Jeera
1 teaspoon - Kitchen King Masala
1/2 Teaspoon - Chili Powder




--- In a pressure cooker, Add the Cut lauki pieces to the Masoor and make sure it is covered in water, add turmeric powder and salt, and give it atleast 3 to 4 whistles
--- In a Kadai, add oil and jeera to it, and after it roasts a bit, add the chopped onion, gaarlic, ginger and fry till it gets light brown, and then add the chopped tomatoes, and fry till it becomes thick.
--- Add some water to this mixture and make a thick gravy, add the Kitchen king masala and chili powder to it and bring to a slow boil
---By this time, the stuff in the pressure cooker will be ready, add this to the gravy and add more salt if necessary..


I did not have any fresh coriander to garnish, but this tasted Awesome with hot rotis.
My kids had it with hot rice and ghee.
You can call it an ALMOST one pot meal, since it has protiens also!