Oil-Free Bottle Gourd And Black Gram Stew

OIL-FREE BOTTLE GOURD AND BLACK GRAM STEW

Hi everybody.Welcome to my corner. Everyone nowadays is suffering from health-related issues and people are not keeping selves and life up-to-date and fit. They are unable to manage it. So it’s really become the need of the hour to start eating healthy to stay so. So most Indians have switched over to cooking oil free and healthy. Continuing in his league today I’ll be sharing an oil-free stew recipe of bottle gourd and black gram, a unique combination which is super healthy and tasty and will really make you think better of the otherwise thought to be a bland and boring vegetable. So let’s start to make it—

Ingredients:-

1. Bottle Gourd – 1.
2. Black Gram – 100 gms.
3. Onion – 1(big).
4. Poppy Seeds – 1 small bowl.
5. Cashew nuts – 5-7.
6. Green Chillies – 2.
7. Asafoetida – A pinch.
8. Ginger-Garlic Paste – 1 tsp.
9. Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp.
10. Red Chilly Powder – 1 tsp.
11. Coriander Powder – 1 tsp.
12. Garam Masala – 2 tsp.
13. Salt – According to taste.

For the tempering:-

1. Cumin – 1 tsp.
2. Curry Leaves – 4.
3. Cinnamon- 1 small stick.
4. Green and Black Cardamom – 1 each.

For the garnishing:-Chopped cilantro and green chilies.

STEPS.

Step 1 

Wash and scrape the bottle gourd. Cut it into medium-sized cubes. Boil it. Soak the black gram overnight and boil it till it is done. Make a paste of poppy seeds, one green chilly, cashew nuts and keep aside. Chop the onions finely.

Step 2 

Take a skillet and add cumin, cinnamon and a pinch of asafoetida and when it splutters add the finely chopped onions. Fry it for two minutes.

Step 3 

Now add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chilly powder, coriander and garam masala and fry again. Now add in the tomato puree and fry for two minutes. Next add the onion, poppy and cashew nut paste. Fry it for two minutes. Now add in the pre-boiled bottle gourd cubes and the black gram and fry it again. Now add water for the gravy and cook for ten more minutes.

Note point:-1. Any kind of seasonal vegetable can be used other than what has been used by me here.No oil as a medium is needed here, not even one drop. Any kind of beans can also be used here in place of black gram.

2. You can also add some coconut milk to the dish just five minutes before switching off the gas.

3. You can add either bay leaf or curry leaves as both give good flavors.

4.When your stew is done and is not on the gas burner, or when it has cooled then squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Don’t do so when the dish is hotter.

Garnish the dish with chopped cilantro.

Our Oil-Free Bottle Gourd And Black Gram Stew is ready. Serve it with chapatis, steamed rice, tortillas, kachoris. It is as healthy and as tasty as you wanted it to be.

Friends do try the recipe at home. Share your comments and feedback. Have a great week everyone. Till then healthy cooking, happy living!!!