Padavalanga Parippu Curry / Snake gourd with Lentils

Padavalanga Parippu Curry /Snake Gourd with Lentils

Padavalanga Parippu Curry /Snake Gourd with Lentils curry (Podalangai Kootu), is great for a healthy meal,and a tasty side dish for rice and rotis. Padavalanga/ Snake Gourd contains a lot of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fibers and anti-oxidants to enhance your immunity. It is great for your hair too. Parippu / Dal is a great source of protein and together they are great for your diet. To know more about the health benefits of Padavalanga, check my Padavalanga Carrot Thoran recipe, where I have added the Health Information.

Padavalanga Parippu Curry is adapted from the Podalangai kootu, quite famous in Tamilnadu. It is part of their meals and you get dry version also, known as poriyal, which is known as Padavalanga Parippu Thoran in Kerala. In some recipes for Padavalanga Parippu Curry, they add little Asafoetida/ Kayam to enhance flavours..This recipe for Padavalanga Parippu curry is from my darling Aunt; Kochammu, who introduced us to Dal varieties and creates magic with her simple yet tasty dishes. Do check another simple Plain Dal recipe by clicking on the link, which is great with rice and Rotis. I love all Dal dishes, like the Onam Parippu Curry, Cheera Parippu Thoran, Parippu Payasam, Parippu Vada etc.

Lentils and pulses are good for growing kids, so try to include them in your weekly menu. Check Van Payar Thoran, Churakka Payar Erissery, Vazhakoombu Cherupayar thoran, Sprouts Thoran, Rajma curry etc. for variety recipes. This Padavalanga Parippu Curry is another simple yet tasty dish that you will definitely enjoy.

Ingredients:

Method:

Wash and cook Toor Dal with enough water in a pressure cooker for just one whistle. Clean the Padavalanga/ Snake Gourd by scraping the skin and clear the insides. Chop small onions and cut the Padavalanga into small square pieces. Add the padavalanga pieces, shallots and curry leaves to the cooked dal. Also add the Chili Powder, Turmeric Powder and salt. Add more water if required and pressure cook till a whistle.

Grind the coconut nicely with Garlic, Green chili, Turmeric powder and Cumin Powder (whole). Add this paste to the Dal and mix well. Let it simmer for two to three minutes. Adjust salt and water.

Heat Coconut oil in a kadai and pop mustards, cumin and add Red chili and Curry leaves. Pour this over the Dal mix and serve hot with rice or rotis.

Tips:

• You may also try with Masoor Dal or Moong Dal. It tastes great with all these.
• Coconut oil should be used for more flavors.
• Adjust the spices as per your liking.
• If you like Padavalanga, you may add more than 1 cup.
• Adjust the water to have a thick gravy.

Hope you liked this healthy and tasty Nadan Padavalanga Parippu thoran. Please put in your comments and share with your friends using the share buttons on the side; that would encourage me to post more home tried recipes. God Bless!!