Heerekayi Tovve/Ride Gourd Dal

Tired with regular Samabar and spicy dishes and willing  for simple yet tasty tovve? here is the recipe for Heerekayi tovve.This is quite famous in Karnataka and prepared on special occasions(tovve consistency will be thicker).

My mom adds bengal gram dal for seasoning for this particular tovee. so I also did that. you can skip if you don't like. but believe me, it becomes soft by absorbing juices from ride gourd and dal and gives good taste while chewing.

You Need To Have:
1 big ride gourd/heerekayi
1 cup yellow lentil /togari bele
2 tsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp bengal gram dal
2-3 green chilies
2-3 curry leaves
pinch of asafiteda powder
 salt to taste
2-3 tsp grated coconut
2-3 tsp finely chopped coriander leaves

Method:
Before cooking any thing from ride gourd, its important to check for bitterness!Yes, ride gourd can be bitter too.. so before proceeding, bite small piece of ride gourd and check if it is bitter,then try with another ride gourd.

Peal the outer skin of ride gourd and chop them into cubes. Put chopped ride gourd pieces, yellow lentil in cooker. add 2-3 drops of oil and pinch of turmeric to it. pressure cook it for 3 whistles.

Heat oil in a thick bottomed vessel and add mustard seeds to it. once they start spluttering, add cumin seeds, bengal gram dal, curry leaves  and slit green chilies to it. fry for 2-3 mins and then add turmeric powder and asafetida powder to it. Pour cooked ride gourd and dal mixture to it. add water if required and bring it to boil. Finally add salt, grated coconut and chopped coriander leaves. simmer for 5-6 mins.Heerekayi tovve is ready to serve.