Padavala Kai Dal (Snake Gourd Dal)

Padavala Kai/Snake Gourd is known as one of the healthy vegetable that you should make use of it very often. Indian/local seasonal vegetables are always best to use. Padavala Kai Dal is a gravy dish and it goes well with almost all the main dishes.

I have used Snake Gourd, coconut and simple spices.
Let us see some benefits of eating Snake Gourd/Padavalaki.
Snake gourd helps to strengthen the immune system. It detoxifies the body. Helps to improve the digestive process of the body. It is good for diabetes, Good treat for hair loss and helps to reduce the weight. Snake Gourd is rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It contain good amount of dietary fiber, less in calories and high levels of protein. It has vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C, manganese, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium and iodine.
No Onion  or  No Garlic is used in this Snake Gourd Dal.

Ingredients : 

Toor Dal : 1/2 Cup
Snake Gourd : 1 (Medium size)
Green chilly : 2
Ginger : An inch
Lemon : 1 Teaspoon (1/2 of one lemon)
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Ghee : 1 Tablespoon
Red chilly : 1
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera/Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh : A pinch
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8
Salt : As required
Coriander Leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.

Method :

1. Wash and cook toor dal in pressure cooker for 6 to 8 minutes. (Add required water and cook).
2. Wash and remove the seeds of snake gourd (the pulp inside the snake gourd). Cut into small pieces.
3. Cook snake gourd pieces with required water till they turn soft.
4. Wash and Slit green chilly and cut coriander leaves and curry leaves.
5. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger, wash it again and then grate it. Keep it aside.
6. Wash and cut lemon and remove the seeds from inside.
7. Grate coconut and grind it with little water till paste and remove from the mixi jar.

8. Keep a big pan and add cooked snake gourd pieces. Add cooked dal. Add little turmeric powder.
9. Add salt and mix it well. Add slit green chilly and grated ginger. Mix it well and let it boil for 3 to      4 minutes.

10. Add ground coconut and mix it well. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Shift the curry to a serving dish.
11. Keep a small pan and put ghee/oil. Add mustard seeds and jeera/cumin seeds.
12. Let the mustard seeds splutter. Add red chilly , ingh and fry for 5 seconds. Add curry leaves.
13. Add this seasonings to Snake Gourd Dal. . Add lemon extract.

14. Add coriander leaves and serve.

Note : 

Adding coconut is optional. Coconut adds taste to the curry. You can use plain boiled milk instead of coconut. Adding onions and garlic is optional. Do not make dal spicy. Mild spicy dal taste better. Use of oil instead of ghee is optional. Ghee adds aroma to the dal. (Ghee is good for health).
Adding moong dal instead of toor dal is optional. Taste differ. ( I have used toor dal).
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.