Ridge gourd dal / Hirekai Huli / Maskai Saaru

Ridge gourd dal / Hirkai Huli / Maskai Saaru

Ridge gourd / Hirekai is a vegetable which is rich in fiber. This vegetable can be used in many  dishes like chutney, sambar, pakoras / bajjis, etc. Here in this recipe i am using this vegetable to make sambar. 

Hirekai huli or sambar is a south Indian dal  which pairs nicely with rice.

Ingredients :

Ridge gourd / Hirekai - 1

Toor dal - 1 Cup

Sambar powder - 11/2 Tsp

Jaggery - 1/2 Tsp

Tamarind juice - 2 Tsp

Salt as required

Corriander Leaves -2 Tsp

For Tempering :

Oil / Ghee - 4 Tsp

Mustard Seeds - 1 Tsp

Asafoetida - 1 Pinch

Curry leaves - 4-5 leaves

Red chilly - 1-2

Method:

1. Peel the Ridge gourd / Hirekai and cut into small pieces

2. In a vessel add Toor dal, Ridge gourd with a water and pressure cook for 3 whistles.

3. For Tempering; In a pan add oil or ghee and mustard seeds. Let the seeds splutter. then add asafoetida, curry leaves and red chilly.

4. To this temper add cooked vegetable and dal, add sambar powder, tamarind juice, jaggery and salt to taste.

5. If requires add little water. But dont make it too watery. This is a thick sambar.

6. Bring it to the boil on a medium flame. Finally add fresh corriander leaves.

7. Serve Hirekai huli / Ridge gourd dal with rice along with a dash of ghee.