Watermelon Rind - Tomato Sambar

Watermelon every where in the market. Let us see what to do with watermelon rind after eating Watermelon fruit. Try and enjoy this Sambar.

It is getting hot and the temperature is going high. Eating watermelon and cooling your body is one of the best way to escape the heat. What do you do with the rind after eating watermelon?  Normally we throw it away in the dustbin right?\ There are many ways to use the rind. . You can cook different varieties of curries, grind and use it in dosa batter, scrape it and use the juice to apply o your skin which helps you to take away the dead cells in our face.
I am using this rind to prepare so many types of curries. Here is one of the side dish. That is yummy Watermelon Rind - Tomato Sambar. This curry goes well with all most all the main dishes. Try and enjoy this Watermelon Rind  - Tomato Sambar.

Let us see some benefits of eating Watermelon rind in our diet.
Watermelon rind is also beneficial to our body in so many ways. Loads of nutritional value is filled in watermelon rind. It is filled with water and it helps the kidney to work efficiently. It also helps in lower the blood pressure. It is filled with vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and A. It has some amount of potassium and zinc. Eating watermelon rind helps in fighting the radical damage and boost the immune system. It helps in taking care of the healthy kidney and helps and maintain the acid level in urine. It is good for people who suffer from kidney stones, it helps to breakdown the stone and flushes out the tiny particles.  It regulates the blood pressure in our body.  It is good for treating urinary tract infections. It helps in reducing inflammation in our body and take care of our health. It is a good source of beta - carotene and good for our eyes.
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Watermelon Rind - Tomato Sambar. It is very simple and healthy. The curry suits to all the main dishes of your choice.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Watermelon Rind : 2 to 3 Cups
Toor dal : 1/2 Cup
Tomatoes : 2 (Medium sized )
To Add :
Home made spice Powder : 2 to 3 Teaspoons
Green chilly : 2
Coriander Leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Mustard - Jeera Seasoning : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : To Taste
Turmeric Powder : A pinch
Dry ginger powder : 1/4 Teaspoon
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
To season :
Ghee/ Coconut oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry leaves : 6 to 8

Method :

1. Wash watermelon nicely and keep it in a big bowl before cutting. ( At least for 30 Minutes).
2. Cut watermelon and remove the fruit part. Remove the outer layer of the rind.
3. Cut the rind into small pieces. Keep it aside
4. Wash and cut tomatoes and remove its seeds.  ( Your wish).

5. Wash and slit green chilly,  cut coriander leaves and curry leaves.
6. Put watermelon pieces, cut tomatoes and washed toor dal in a pressure cooker.
7. Add 1/2 cup or little less water and cook for 65 to 6 minutes. ( Use the weight).

8. Remove the lid of pressure cooker once it is cooled.
9. Add salt, raw methi seeds, turmeric powder and mix it well.
10. Let it boil for 2 minutes. Add home prepared spice powder. Add dry ginger powder.
11. Mix it well and cook for another 3 minutes. Put off the gas.

12. Shift the ready Watermelon Rind - Toamto Samabar to a serving dish.

13. Add mustard seeds, jeera, ingh and curry leaves seasoning to it.

14. Add cut coriander leaves and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note :

Use a pressure cooker to cook watermelon rind pieces or it remains hard and the curry does not taste good. Do not over cook. 2 whistles are enough. You can cook the dal separately. Adding any other spices of your choice is optional. Remember use of home prepared spice is healthy. Adding fresh grated ginger is optional. The thickness of the curry can be your choice. If you like bit watery add more water and use little more spice. Or use more dal to get the thickness.
Time : 30 Momites.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Home Prepared Spice Powder :

Dry roast, coriander seeds, ( 2 Tablespoons ), urid dal, 1/2 Teaspoon, red byadagi chilly  4 to 5, dry coconut (kobbari/Copra) 2 to 3 tablespoons. Dry grind once it is cooled. You can use this as spice powder for curries.

Channa Dal - Ridge Gourd Tovve/ Dal

Tovve /Dal is one of the must dish served in the beginning of the food. tovee is full of dals and is normally with very little spices.

Tovve is eaten with ghee and it provides minerals and vitamins.
I have prepared Heerekai/Ridge Gourd with channa dal/Kadale bele and it goes well with almost all the main dishes.
Tovve is filled with proteins, because we do use lots of dal while preparing it. Adding vegetables helps to digest the food we eat.
Different types of dals can be used for preparing Tovve. Moong dal, Toor dal, Masoor dal and even pulses like pea pods, cow pea, black eyed bean and whole moong  are used preparing tovee.
Let us see some benefits of eating channa dal in our diet.
Channa dal/split bengal gram is one of the nutritious dal . We indians use this channa dal for many dishes.It is filled with nutrition and minerals.
Channa dal is low in fat and it helps to lower the cholesterol. It is good for diabetes. It has minerals like zinc, folate and proteins. It helps to boost our energy and immunity. It is good good for weight loss. It is good for people who suffer from high blood pressure. It protects from digestive problems.
No Onion or No Garlic is used in this Channa Dal - Ridge Gourd Tovve/Dal.

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Channa Dal : 1/2 Cup
Ridge Gourd : 2 ( Medium sized )
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
To Add : 
Green chilly : 2
Curry leaves : 6 to 8
Coriander leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Lemon Extract : 1 Tablespoon
Ginger : An Inch
Salt : As required
Fresh grated coconut : 2 Tablespoons
To Season : 
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Jeera /Cumin Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh /Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 To 8
Oil/Ghee : 1 Teaspoon

Method :

1. Wash and cook channa dal with required water.

2. Wash and remove the edges and the outer layer of Ridge Gourd and cut it in to small pieces.
( Use the outer layer to prepare chutney) .

3. Cook ridge gourd pieces till they turn soft.
4. Wash and slit green chilly, cut coriander and curry leaves.. Extract lemon juice from lemon. (1 lemon).
6. Wash and remove the outer layer of ginger and wash it again. Grate it and keep it aside.
7. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add ghee/oil and put mustard seeds and jeera.
8. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add cut green chilly and curry leaves. Add ingh.
9. Add cooked dal and  ridghe gourd pieces. Add little turmeric powder. Add grated ginger.

10. Add required salt and water. Mix it well and let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add Lemon extract.

11. Shift " Channa dal - Ridge gourd Tovve to a serving dish.
12. Add little  grated coconut and coriander leaves. Serve with the main dish of your choice.

Note :

Channa dal must be cooked well. It is better to cook in pressure cooker. Do not allow it to over cook or it turns fully powdered grains.
Adding green chilly is your choice. You can use red byadagi chilly. Seasoning with ghee is optional. I have done with coconut oil and I top up the tovve with a tablespoon of homemade ghee.
Adding any other spice is your choice.
Time : 20 to 25 minutes.
Serves : 2 to  3 .