Poddele Gashi

Poddele Gashi

(A tasty main dish with Snake gourd (poddele), tur dal, coconut paste & seasoning. Popular in Konkani cuisine of Cochin GSBs)

Serves: 4

You will need

1/2 cup ( 100 g ) tur dal
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 teaspoon oil
200 g snake gourd (poddele), peel off the outer gently and cut into 1/2 - inch cubes
1 small darbyasole (kudampuli)

For Coconut paste:

1 cup ( 75 g ) grated coconut
3/4 teaspoon red chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 tablespoon water

Make a smooth and thick paste of above ingredients with water.

Method

For dal:

Wash and clean dal. Soak in a pressure cooker for half an hour with turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon oil and 1 1/2 cups water and cook for 15 minutes or till done ( reduce the heat to medium after 2 nd whistle and cook for 10 minutes ). Allow the cooker to cool naturally.

For gashi:

In a wide bowl / non stick pan, mix boiled dal, snake gourd pieces, salt to taste and 1 kudampuli / darbyasole. Mix all the ingredients well. Cover with a lid and cook on low to medium heat for 15 minutes or until 3/4 done and poddele pieces softens.

Add coconut paste, mix well and cook on a low heat for 8 - 10 minutes ( Do not add extra water ).

For Seasoning:

1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon urad dal
1/2 teaspoon methi ( fenugreek ) seeds
6 curry leaves

Method

Heat oil in a frying pan. Add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add urad dal, methi and curry leaves. Saute for 2 - 3 minutes until fragrant. Pour the seasoning over poddele gashi and mix well. Serve with rice.