Pavarkkai Pitlai
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| Pavarkkai -bitter gourd |
Pavarkkai or bitter gourd is a delicacy is most South Indian households. It can be made into pitlai which is a version of kozhambu, crisp chips, as well as pickle.
Ingredients
- 1 large or 2 medium sized bitter gourds
- 1/2 cup of tuvar dal
- 1 lemon-sized tamarind
- A pinch of turmeric powder
- A few curry leaves
- Salt to taste ( about 1 1/2 tsps.)
- A lump of jaggery (optional)
Method of Preparation
- Soak the tamarind in warm water for about 20 minutes and extract its juice.
- Pressure cook the tuvar dal with the turmeric powder.
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| Cooked tuvar dal |
- Chop the bitter gourds into small pieces and keep aside.
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| Chopped pavarkkai |
Ingredients to be ground
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| Ground ingredients |
- 4 tsps coriander seeds (dhaniya)
- 2 tsp. urad dal
- 2 tsp channa dal
- 5-6 peppercorns
- 5 red chillies
- A few curry leaves
- Asafoetida - a small lump (hing)
- 2 tsp. oil
- 2 tbsp fresh grated coconut
- Roast the coriander seeds, urad dal, channa dal, peppercorns, red chillies, curry leaves and hing in a little oil till colour changes to golden brown.
- Grind the roasted mixture with the grated coconut.
Procedure
- Saute the chopped pavarkkai pieces in a little oil in a kadai till it is partially cooked.
- Pour the tamarind extract into the kadai.
- Add salt and a little turmeric.
- Allow the mixture to boil till the raw smell of tamarind has gone.
- Now add the cooked tuvar dal and stir for a minute till the consistency is uniform.
- Then add the ground paste and cook till the pitlai starts boiling.
- Drop a lump of jaggery at the end.
Tempering
Take a tsp. of oil and temper with 1 tsp.mustard seeds, 1 chilli broken into bits, and hing, and a few curry leaves.
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| Pavarkkai pitlai |
Pavarkkai Pitlai ready!!
Serve with hot rice.
