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This is very simple dish which my mother-in-law always prepared, she always prepared the basic type of this which was very quick & easy for a fast life, it is absolutely tasty & very delicious with hot rice, spoonful of Ghee & more molaga (upperi/salted chillies/uppu menasinakaayi). When I started cooking I slightly altered by using vegetables in it. Here goes the Recipe :
RIDGE GOURD TOVVE

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Moong dal/Hesaru Bele/Paitham parup
• 1 Ridge Gourd

Seasonings:

• 1tbsp channa dal/Kadale Bele/Kadalai parup
• 1tbsp Urad dal/Uddina Bele/Ulundu parup
• 1tsp Mustard seeds/saaseve/Kadag
• 1 sprig curry leaves/Karibevu/karivepilai
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds/jeerige/seeragam
• 2 red chillies
• a pinch of Asafoetida
• salt to taste

To Powder: 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tsp cumin seeds

METHOD :

1. First scrape the skin out of the Ridge Gourd and cut them into 2 to 4 pieces like cubes, Take 1 or 2 glasses of water and cook them saperately, or you can cook Moong dal with the vegetable in a pressure cooker for 2 whistles.
2. For seasoning, take a Kadai, heat a tbsp of oil add mustard seeds, once they splutter add channa, urad dals, chillies , jeera and add them to the dal-vegetable sambhar.
3. Add the coarsely powdered pepper & cumin seeds to the sambhar which really gives a good flavour with a pinch of asafoetida
4. Add washed curry leaves & cook them all in the stove for 5 to 6 minutes
5. Serve this sambhar with hot rice or with chapati

Variations: some people do not prefer to eat pepper, they can omit the powder & just add the seasonings, my Mom-in-law always cooked it with just 1 or 2 Tomatoes, you can do this with chow-chow, cucumber, Dudhi(Bottle Gourd), Snake Gourd etc.,