Bottle Gourd Kootu

Bottle Gourd is well known vegetable to most of us because of its healthy content. We can have different types of curries, dry curries even payasam and halwa also can be prepared.
I have used Bottle gourd, capsicum and some spices for this particular curry and this curry goes well with almost all the main dish. It is not that spicy. A mild curry will be surely liked by you all..

Let us see some benefits of using Tamarind in our curry.
Tamarind/Hunisekai/puli/is a fruit with sweet and sour taste and it is used both in medicinal and culinary purposes. It has many nutritional properties. It contain good amount of Vitamin C , B and E. It has a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, manganese and dietary fiber. It has anti oxidant and anti - inflammatory properites. Tamarind helps to reduce the blood pressure and cholesterol. They helps to balance diabets. They helps to boost immune system in our body and helps in proper blood circulation. It is also good for improving nerve function. They are good remedy for joint pains and inflammation.
" Bottle Gourd Kootu " has no onions and no garlic. It can be eaten with rotis, 
Lets see the recipe now.

Ingredients 

To Cook :
Bottle Gourd : 1 (Medium size)
Moong dal : 1/2 Cup (2 handful)
To Grind 
Coconut : 2 to 3 Table spoons
Green chilly : 2
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /cumin seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Tamarind : A small marble size
To Season : 
Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8 leaves
Ingh/Asafoetida : A pinch
Capsicum : 1
To Add : 
Salt : As required
Coriander leaves : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer layer of bottle gourd and cut into small pieces.
2. Wash and cut green chilly, corinader leaves and capsicum. Keep it aside.
3. Keep a big pan on the fire and add a cup of water. Let it boil. Add cut bottle gourd pieces.
4. Wash moong dal and add it to bottle gourd pieces. Let it cook till they turn soft.

5. Grate coconut and grind it with green chilly, jeera, mustard seeds and tamarind.
6. Use little water and grind it till paste. Remove from the mixi jar and keep it aside.

7. Add grond coconut mixture to the cooked bottle gourd and mix it well. Add required salt.
8. Add required water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

9. Keep a small pan on the fire and heat. Add a spoon of oil. Add mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
10. Add curry leaves, ingh and cut capsicum. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes. (On the low flame).
11. Shift the bottle gourd curry to a serving bowl. Add fried capsicum and mix it well.

12. Add coriander leaves and serve " Bottel Gourd Kootu " with any main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Adding toor dal instead of moong dal is optional. Adding more chilly to make the curry spicy is optional. You can add 2 to 3 pods of pepper pods while grinding. It not only adds to the taste, is good for health. (Gas formation will be reduced by pepper). You can also add a spoon of ghee while serving.
Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 2 to 3