Pavakka pitlai

This is a traditional Tamilian dish, very similar to sambar in taste but thicker in texture.

Ingredients

Bitter gourd cut into small pieces - 250 gm
Tuvar dhal - 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Tamarind - a small lemon sized ball
Jaggery - a small piece

To roast
Oil - 2 tsp
Channa dhal - 1 Tbs
Coriander seeds - 1 Tbs
Dry red chillies - 5
Black pepper corns - 1/4 tsp
Shredded coconut - 1/2 cup
Asafoetida(powder) - a pinch

To season
Oil - 1 Tbs
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Dry red chilly  - 2 broken into 2 pieces
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Preparation

Wash and cook tuvar dhal in a pressure cooker with 1 cup water
Soak tamarind in 1 cup water and extract the juice. Discard the pulp.
Cook bitter gourd pieces with turmeric powder and little salt in a regular pot with 1 cup water..

Heat up oil in a pan, add channa dhal, coriander seeds, black pepper corns, dry red chillies, and shredded coconut respectively, Once coconut added stir few times & turn off the stove and then add asafoetida powder.

Once its cooled down grind it to a paste with minimal water added Add this paste and cooked tuvar dhal to the bitter gourd, bring to a boil. Now add tamarind extract and jaggery  and boil again. Adjust the salt  and turn off  the stove.

To season heat up oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds, add dry red chillies and curry leaves, pour it over the pitlai.