Kaddu Dal Lauki Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpeas Recipe

Ingredients:

3 cups chopped Bottle gourd (Lauki)
1 cup split chickpeas (Toor dal)
1 cup onion chopped (pyaz)
1-2 green chilies optional (sabz mirch)
1 cup chopped tomatoes (tamater)

2 tablespoons tomato paste (tamater paste)

1 teaspoon cumin powder (zeera)

1 tablespoon coriander powder (dhania)
1 teaspoon red chilli powder  (lal mirch)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder  (haldi)
Salt to taste (namak)

2 tablespoon or more chopped cilantro (fresh dhania)
1 tablespoon cumin seeds (sabut zeera)

1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf)

1 tablespoon minced ginger (adarak)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (lehsan)

2-3 dry red chilies (sokhi mirch)

water (pani)

Oil (teal)

Directions:Wash lentils and soak in water for 30-40 minutes. Peel bottle guard and cut in small cubes. In a pot heat oil, onions,  light brown the onions and then add ginger and garlic. Add tomato paste, lentils, dried spices, water and cover. Cook for 15 minutes and then add  bottle gourd pieces, mix well and cook for 20 minutes more. After 20 minutes add chopped tomatoes and cook for 10 more minutes.

For tampering: In pan heat oil onions; when onions are light browned, add cumin seeds and dry pepper and fry for 2 minutes. Add the tampering to bottle gourd and lentils. Serve with rice, salad, or bread.