Kadalai Parupu - Sorakkai Kuzhambu ( Channa Dal - Bottle Gourd Kuzhambu)

Kadalai Parupu - Sorakkai Kuzhambu (Channa Dal - Bottle Gourd Kuzhambu)

Another tasty way to include Sorakkai in our diet. Adding Channa Dal improves the taste of the Kuzhambu. Here is the recipe..

Ingredients: (Recipe For 2)

Kadalai Parupu            - 1/4 cup  (Channa Dal)

Sorakkai                      - 1/4 cup (Chopped)

Turmeric Powder        - 1/4 tsp

Mustard Seeds            - 1/2 tsp

Urad Dal                     - 1/2 tsp

Small Onions              - 5

Red Chilli                   - 1

Curry Leaves              - few

Salt                             - As required

Oil                              - As required

To Grind:

Chopped Coconut       - 3 tbsp

Cumin Seeds               - 1 tsp

Green Chilli                - 1

Procedure:

• Chop Sorakkai into little pieces. Chop Small onions finely.
• Wash and Cook Well Channa Dal. I used to pressure cook Channa dal in high flame for 1 whistle and after that will cook in low flame for 10 more minutes. Channa Dal would have cooked well by now.
• Add Sorakkai to cooked channa dal and cook for another whistle.
• Grind everything under ' To Grind'.
• Heat oil in  a pan. Add Mustard Seeds and Urad dal.
• When they splutter, add chopped Onions, Red chilli and curry leaves.
• Add cooked Dal and Sorakkai after the onions are translucent.
• Add also the ground masala, turmeric powder and enough salt.
• Add enough water and cook the kuzhambu, till it gets thicker.
• Serve it with hot steaming rice.

Spicy Sorakkai Pulav (Spicy Bottle Gourd Pulav)

Spicy Sorakkai Pulav (Spicy Bottle Gourd Pulav)

As we all know, Bottle Gourd is a very healthy vegetable. It refreshes us during summer, helps to treat urinary disorders, great for weight loss and prevents heart diseases. 

 Even though its healthy, i feel  little difficult  to eat that less spicy and tasteless sorakkai . On my own innovation,   tried this spicy sorakkai pulav.. It was awesome!!!

 I grated bottle gourd. hence we couldn't even pick it out from rice... This is the best way to include healthy Bottle Gourd in the healthy and tasty way.. Recipe Follows!!!

Ingredients: (Recipe for 2)

Cinnamon Sticks                                        - 1

Cloves                                                        - 1

Star Aniseeds                                             - 1

Cloves                                                        - 1

Green cardamom                                       - 1

Briyani rice ( Seeraga Samba rice)            - 1 cup

Bottle Gourd                                               - 1/2 of medium size Bottle Gourd  (Sorakkai) 

Big onion  (cut lengthwise)                         - 2  ( medium size)

Chopped Ginger  (cut lengthwise)               - 2 tsp  

Chopped Garlic  (cut lengthwise)               - 2 tsp  

Turmeric powder                                        - a pinch

Chilli Powder                                              - 2 tsp

Cumin Powder                                            - 1 tsp

Coriander Powder                                       - 1 tsp

Garam Masala Powder                               - 1 tsp

Fresh Coriander leaves                              - a handful

Fresh Mint leaves                                       - a handful

Oil                                                               -  3 tsp

Ghee                                                           - 1 tsp

Water                                                          - 2 cups

Salt                                                             - as required

Procedure:

1.  Wash the rice , empty all water and keep it aside
2. Grate Bottle Gourd.
3. Heat 1 tsp of oil in a cooker.
4. Add rice to it. saute for some time. You can see rice getting dry. That is the perfect time to switch off the flame. This is done to prevent the rice getting sticky.
5. Take out the rice 
6. Add remaining oil + ghee and add cloves, aniseeds,cloves, cardamom and cinnamon sticks.
7. Then add onions, ginger and garlic
8. Once onions become translucent add grated bottle gourd.
9. Saute well.. Add in all the powders including salt.
10. After 3-5 minutes, add  rice and 2 cups of water
11. Add coriander and mint leaves and cook the pulav for 1 whistle..
12. Mix pulav well.  Be careful while mixing up briyani. Make it a perfect round when you are mixing up the briyani otherwise you might end up breaking the rice.
13. Serve it with Onion Raita and Pappad..
14. Enjoy your Pulav!!!

Quick Tips:

• You can also use Basmathi rice or even normal ponni rice. I used Basmathi rice only..