Bottle Gourd in Red Lentils

Ingredients:
Red Lentils / Masoor Dal 1 1/2 Cups
Bottle Gourd 1/2 of Small One
Green Chiles 2 – 4
Tamarind 1 Inch Piece
Turmeric Powder a big Pinch
Salt to taste

Talimpu:
Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
Broken Dried Red Chiles 3 – 4
Asafoetida a Big Pinch
Curry Leaves 5
Oil 2 tsps

Method of preparation:
Remove stems, wash and slice the green chiles.
Soak tamarind in few tbsps of hot water and remove any veins and seeds.
Peel, wash, remove ends and chop bottle gourd into small pieces (around 2 Cups).
Wash and finely chop the cilantro leaves.
Heat 3 cups of water in a sauce pot, add masoor dal.
Let masoor dal cook for 5 – 10 minutes, stir in chopped bottle gourd, green chiles, tamarind, turmeric powder and salt.
Boil till masoor dal turns yellow and bottle gourd becomes soft but not mushy.
Heat oil in a small pan on medium heat, add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, remove from heat and add to the above pot with bottle gourd and lentils.
Boil for a minute and remove from heat.
Garnish with cilantro and serve bottle gourd in red lentils with steamed rice or with roti.