Moong dal & Ridge Gourd/ Heerekai palya/ Pesara Pappu Beerakaya

Heerekai Palya Heerekai Recipe

                        A very easy recipe to cook and yet tasty. Most of us know that ridge gourd is a nutrition powerhouse and has many health benefits. It’s a wonderful veggie for babies & toddlers. It helps ease constipation, purifies blood, builds immunity and controls the blood sugar levels. Usually kids do not like the mish mash texture of dals and veggies and is difficult to please them. But this is a recipe that’s going to please most kids and they would love to eat. My 2 yr old son,thinks this is a snack and he relishes this without any rice/roti. I make another variety of Ridge Gourd curry with sesame seeds and milk, that too tastes great. i prepare chettinad ridge gourd curry too, that has a chettinad spice flavour. now on to todays recipe

Ingredients

Moong Dal & Ridge Gourd / Heerekai Palya / Pesara Pappu Beerakaya

2 cups tender ridge gourd pieces (peel only the veins and keep the skin)

½ cup moong dal (washed and soaked for 1 hour)

½ cup grated fresh coconut

3 green chilies (adjust)

¼ tsp.mustard

¼ tsp. jeera

¼ tsp. pepper (optional)

1 sprig curry leaves

Pinch of turmeric

Pinch of hing

Salt to taste

2 tbsp. oil

Method

1.     Heat oil in a pan, add mustard, jeera, curry leaves & chilies, hing. Allow them to splutter.

2.    Add the gourd, salt & turmeric, mix well, fry for a min. close the lid and cook for 2 mins. By then, the gourd releases moisture.

3.    Add dal, mix well. Close the lid and cook till the dal and gourd is cooked fully. If needed can add ½ cup of water to keep the dal and veggie soft and moist.

4.    Add coconut and pepper, stir well and cook on a low flame for a min or till the water evaporates fully.

Ready to serve with rice or roti.