Sorakaya Curry (Anapakaya Senagapappu Kura)

Sorakaya Curry (Anapakaya Senagapappu Kura)

This delicious and nourishing dish is made with bottle gourd, tomatoes, basic spices, curry leaves and a dash of coconut. You may omit the coconut if you don't want.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Servings:

Author: Swasthi Shreekanth

Ingredients

¼ cup chana dal (senaga pappu)
2 cups sorakaya (bottle gourd peeled & chopped)
2 tablespoon Oil or ghee
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
½ to ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
1 sprig curry leaves (pat dry to avoid splutters)
1 pinch hing /asafoetida (optional)
1 medium onion chopped finely (optional)
2 to 3 cloves garlic + ½ inch ginger - fine chopped
1 green chili (slit or chopped, optional)
1 large tomato chopped finely (deseed if you want)
¼ teaspoon turmeric /haldi
½ teaspoon red chili powder
½ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
2 to 4 tablespoon thick coconut milk (or 2 tbsps fresh coconut paste or chutney)

Instructions

Stovetop Sorakaya Curry

Add chana dal to a bowl and rinse it well thrice. Pour ¾ cup boiling hot water and cover. Soak for 30 to 60 mins.
Heat oil or ghee in a pot or stovetop pressure cooker. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves. When they begin to splutter add hing and onions (optional). Saute until the onions turn transparent
Add chili, ginger garlic and saute for a minute. Stir in tomatoes, turmeric and salt. Saute until the tomatoes break down. Add the bottle gourd and stir fry for 3 mins.
Stir in the red chili powder and chana dal with the soaking water. Pour ¼ cup hot water. Cover and simmer till the chana dal & sorakaya is cooked through and soft. If the pan dries out add more hot water as required. Or alternately you can pressure cook for 1 whistle.
Taste test to adjust salt and add coconut if using. If the curry is runny to your liking cook uncovered on a slightly high flame to evaporate some of the liquid. I add ⅛ tsp black pepper to adjust the heat levels but if you want more flavor add garam masala.
Serve Sorakaya Curry with rice or chapati.

Nutrition