Pavakkai Pitlai - Bitter Gourd Pitlai

Pavakkai Pitlai is an authentic South Indian delicacy made with bitter Gourd(Pavakkai) cooked with lentils  simmered in tamarind juice with  coconut- dal Paste. It Goes well with idli & steamed Rice.

Pavakkai Pitlai

 Prep Time :  10  min.  

Cook Time : 30  minutes.

Recipe Category:kuzhambu

Recipe Cusine South Indian

serves:4

Ingredients

Pavakkai - 2.

Black Chana - 1/4 cup.

Toor dal - 1/2 Cup.

Tamarind - Big Goosebery size.

turmeric -1/4 tsp.

sambar powder - 2 tsp.

salt - to taste.

Coriander leaves - few (for Garnishing).

To Roast & Grind  Grind (for Pitlai Masala)

Chana dal - 1 tbsp.

Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp.

Coconut - 1/4 cup.

oil - 1 tsp.

To Temper

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp.

Cumin seeds -1/2 tsp.

hing -a Generous Pinch.

Curry leaves - 1 sprig.

oil - As needed.

Preparation

• Soak the black channa over night or before 8 hours.
• Cut the Pavakkai into Roundels before making pitlai.
• Soak the tamarind for 1/2 an hour  in 1 + 1/2 cups of water to prepare tamarind juice. Now throw the Pulp & retain the juice.

Method

• Pressure cook black channa & Pavakkai with needed water for 6 - 7 whisles. 

• Also pressure cook toor dal  till it turns soft.Then mash the dal. (I used same cooker, with 2 different containers. One with chanadal & pavakkai, other one with toor dal & 1/4 tsp of turmeric).

• Heat a tsp of oil in a kadai, add Chana dal & Coriander seeds.Saute till dal turns Golden brown,then add Grated coconut saute till it turns light Golden & also you get Good smell of coconut.Now Grind it into a smooth Paste with needed water. Now Pitlai Masala is Ready.

• Heat the oil in a kadai, add mustard seeds.When it splutters add Cumin seeds.When it sizzles add fenugreek seeds,curry leaves & hing. 

• Now add tamarind juice,Black channa, cooked Pavakkai,sambar Powder & salt.

• Let it cook in a tamarind juice for 6 - 7 minutes. Then add mashed toor dal & pitlai Masala.Let it cook for 5 - 6 minutes, till it gets  slightly thick Sambar Consistency.Now Pavakkai pitlai is Ready.

• Garnish with fresh Coriander leaves.                                  

Notes

• If you forgot to soak black channa  ignore it .
• you can Make brinjal Pitlai with same method using Brinjal.
• you can also add a Red chilli while making Pitlai Masala.
• Adding black chana gives additional taste to pitlai.