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Ingredients:
- Gongura (Dekanee Hemp) :
120gms
(Leaves Only)
- Bengal Gram – ½ Cup (50ml
Cup)
- Bottle Gourd – 150gms
- Green Chilies – 3
- Red Chili Powder – 1tsp
- Turmeric Powder – 1/8tsp
- Salt To Taste.
- Black Gram – 1 1/2tsps
- Mustard Seeds – 3/4tsp
- Fenugreek Seeds – 5 Seeds
- Oil – 3tsps
Preparations:
Pluck
the leaves of Gongura and wash them. Chop the leaves finely.
Microwave
cooking: Take them into
a microwave safe bowl and add around 20mlwater. Microwave on high power
for 5
minutes stirring once (if required) in between.
Pressure Cooking: One can cook
this Gongura in Pressure cooker also. Wash and clean the green chilies.
Make
slits longitudinally on the green chilies and keep them aside. Take
Bengal gram
in a bowl, wash and add water to it and keep it aside. Clean and peel
the
bottle gourd. Cut the bottle gourd into medium size pieces and take them
into a
bowl. Add water to the bottle gourd pieces. Now take a pressure cooker
and
place the Bengal gram bowl, bottle gourd bowl and gongura bowl in it,
close the
lid and keep it on the flame. Just before the pressure develops in the
pressure
cooker and it is about to whistle make the flame low and cook for 10
minutes.
After 10 minutes, make the flame high and before it whistles switch it
off and
give a standing time till all the pressure is released. During the
standing
time, with the pressure inside the pressure cooker, the ingredients get
cooked
even after we remove it from flame. When cool remove the bowls from the
cooker
and keep them aside. Strain the excess water from the bottle gourd
pieces, the
cooked Bengal gram and keep it aside. Such excess water is also known
stylishly
as Vegetable Stock. Store it for further use.
Method:
Take
a pan (I prefer iron pan) and heat it. Add the cooked Gongura to the
pan. Add
vegetable stock to it and if required add some more water. Add the slit
green
chilies and brew covered on slow flame for 10 to 15 minutes. After 15
minutes,
add the bottle gourd pieces and the cooked Bengal gram. Mix well. Add
salt,
turmeric powder and red chilli powder. Mix well and allow it to boil for
few
seconds. During this entire process the "PASARU" smell goes off and
the crossing of sourness from the Gongura and hotness from the Chilies
takes
place. The neutral in taste Bottle gourd absorbs both.
Now
season the Pulusu. Heat a pan and add oil to it. When oil is hot add
fenugreek
seeds, black gram and fry. When the seeds are golden brown in color add
the
mustard seeds and fry till they splutter. When done, add this seasoning
to the
boiling Pulusu. Switch off the flame and cover the pan immediately.
After 2
minutes open and mix the Pulusu. Transfer this to a serving bowl. Serve
with
hot plain rice and "MUDDA PAPPU" with a tinge of Ghee!!!.
Points To
Remember:
Take
care while cooking Bengal gram in a pressure cooker and ensure it
doesn't get
over cooked. There is a chance of it getting over cooked in pressure
cookers.
It is advisable to cook the Bengal gram separately so that we can see
and feel
it in the dish without loosing its identity. It should be just cooked.
Neither
over cooked nor under cooked. Then only one can enjoy the Bengal gram in
the
dish. |