Bottle Gourd (Sorekayi) Tove | ಸೋರೆಕಾಯಿ ತೋವೆ

Quick, refreshing & tasty Bottle Gourd curry with Yellow Lentils for Rice or Chapathi

Ingredients (ಬೇಕಾಗುವ ಪದಾರ್ಥಗಳು):

1 medium sized Bottle Gourd  |  ಸೋರೆಕಾಯಿ

1 cup Yellow Lentils (Toor Dal)  |  ತೊಗರಿ ಬೇಳೆ

2 Tbs Bengal Gram seeds  |  ಕಡ್ಲೆ ಬೇಳೆ

2 - 3 medium sized Tomatoes  |  ಟೊಮೇಟೊ

1 - 2 Green Chillies  |  ಹಸಿಮೆಣಸು

2 - 3 Cloves Garlic  |  ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ ಎಸಳುಗಳು

1 small Onion  |  ಸಣ್ಣ ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ

1/2 tsp of Turmeric powder  |  ಅರಶಿನ ಹುಡಿ

Salt to taste  |  ರುಚಿಗೆ ತಕ್ಕಷ್ಟು ಉಪ್ಪು

Grape sized Jaggery (Optional)  |  ಬೆಲ್ಲ (ಬೇಕಿದ್ದರೆ ಮಾತ್ರ)

3 - 4 tsp Ghee  or Oil |  ತುಪ್ಪ ಅಥವಾ ಎಣ್ಣೆ

1 - 2 broken Red Chillies  |  ಕೆಂಪು ಒಣ ಮೆಣಸಿನ ತುಂಡು

1/2 tsp Cumin seeds  |  ಜೀರಿಗೆ

1 tsp Mustard seeds  |  ಸಾಸಿವೆ

Big pinch of Asafoetida |  ದೊಡ್ಡ ಚಿಟಿಕೆ ಇಂಗು

2 strands Curry leaves  |  ಕರಿ ಬೇವಿನ ಸೊಪ್ಪು

6 - 8 strands Coriander leaves  |  ಕೊತ್ತಂಬರಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು

Recipe (ಮಾಡುವ ವಿಧಾನ):

Wash yellow lentils, bengal gram seeds and put them in a pressure cooker. Add tomatoes, required amount of water and cook them well. Once the pressure goes off, remove the outer skin of Tomato and mash them properly as shown in the picture below.

Chop onion into small pieces as shown in the picture below. Cut green chillies into two halves. Remove the outer cover of garlic pods and chop them into small pieces. Peel the bottle gourd, remove the seeds if its ripen and cut them into medium sized pieces as shown in the picture below.

Put mustard seeds, cumin seeds, broken red chillies, asafoetida and oil in a thick bottomed vessel/pan. Once it starts spluttering, add garlic and fry them for about 1-2 mins. Add curry leaves, green chillies, chopped onion and pinch of turmeric powder. Fry them for about 3-4 mins in medium flame, until onion becomes light golden in colour.

Add chopped bottle gourd and mix them well.

Add required amount of water and cook them well by covering a lid for about 15-20 mins.

 Add cooked lentils and bring them to boil. Add salt, water if required & bring it to boil.

Add chopped coriander leaves, mix them well and bring it to boil. Keep the Tove in medium/low flame for about 2-3 mins and then switch off the flame.

Serve hot. Mix well before serving. It goes well with Rice/Chapathis. 

Tips (ಸಲಹೆ):

 * Remove the seeds of Bottle Gourd if it's ripen(hard)

 * Instead of Bottle Gourd, tender Yellow Cucumber can also be used

 * Tender Bottle Gourd skin can be used for preparing Chutney

 * Adding little amount of other lentils like Bengal Gram seeds or Red Lentils or Split Green Gram enhances the taste of Tove

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 * ಸೋರೇಕಾಯಿಯ ಬೀಜವನ್ನು ಬೆಳೆದಿದ್ದರೆ(ಗಟ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ) ಮಾತ್ರ ತೆಗೆದರೆ ಸಾಕು 

 * ಸೋರೆಕಾಯಿಯ ಬದಲು, ಎಳೆ ಬಣ್ಣದ(ಮಂಗಳೂರು) ಸೌತೆಕಾಯಿಯನ್ನೂ ಬಳಸಬಹುದು

 * ಎಳೆ ಸೋರೆಕಾಯಿಯ ಸಿಪ್ಪೆಯಿಂದ ಚಟ್ನಿಯನ್ನು ತಯಾರಿಸಬಹುದು

 * ತೊಗರಿಬೇಳೆಯ ಜೊತೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಡ್ಲೆ ಬೇಳೆ ಅಥವಾ ಮಸ್ಸೂರಿ ಬೇಳೆ ಅಥವಾ ಹೆಸರು ಬೇಳೆಯನ್ನು ಹಾಕುವುದರಿಂದ ತೋವೆಯ ಪರಿಮಳ ಹಾಗು ರುಚಿ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗುತ್ತದೆ