Beerakaya Kootu ~ Ridge Gourd Lentil Stew

Beerakaya Kootu (Telugu) ~ Peerkangai Kootu (Tamil) ~ Heerekai Kootu (Kannada)
Ingredients :Chopped Ridge Gourd : 3 cups
Yellow Lentil or Chana Dal : 1 cup
Grated Fresh Coconut : ½ to 1 cup
Tomato : 1
Onion : 1 big sized
Green Chillies : 1 or 2
Red Chillies : 1 or 2
Mustard Seeds : 1 tsp
Cumin seeds : ½ tsp
Black Pepper Powder : 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder : ¼ tsp
Red Chilli Powder : ½ tsp
Oil : 2 tsp
A Pinch of Hing
Salt to taste

Method :Wash, peel and cut the ridge gourd into medium size pieces and set aside. Wash the yellow lentil with plenty of water. Put the chopped ridge gourd, yellow lentil, chopped onion, chopped tomato, turmeric, chopped green chillies and two cups of water in a pressure cooker. Cook till 3 whistles. Switch off the flame and wait until the pressure go off. Remove the dal mixture from the cooker. Add the salt and red chilli powder to it. Let it cook for 2 minutes. Now add the grated coconut and pepper powder and cook for another two minutes. Remove from the flame and keep aside. Heat oil in a vessel for seasoning and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and let them splutter. When they start to splutter add the red chillies, hing and curry leaves. Fry for another few seconds and pour over the cooked lentil mixture. Mix well and serve hot with roti or steamed rice and dollop of ghee.