Tovve- The south Indian Dal

Tovve aka the south Indian dal is an ultimate comfort food for me. I really don't know why I didn't post this earlier when I make this at least once in every week. 

This recipe uses very few simple ingredients to create this heavenly and heart warming side dish for rice or rotis. Lightly spiced moong dal and the ridge gourd combination is a match made in heaven. The addition of lime, lends a zesty flavour to the dal.

Tovve recipe:

Preparation time: 10 mins

Cooking time: 15 mins

Serves- 4

Ingredients:

Moongdal or Tur dal or masoor dal or a combo any of these dal- 1 cup

Ridge gourd- 1 large, cubed and par boiled

Coconut- 1 tbsp (optional)

Turmeric- 1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

Sugar- 1 tsp

Juice of 1/2 lime

Coriander to garnish

For the seasoning:

Oil or ghee- 2 tsp

Mustard- 1/2 tsp

Jeera- 1/2 tsp

Hing- A pinch

Green chilli- 1, finely chopped

Curry leaves- 1 sprig

Method:

• Pressure cook the dal or dals along with turmeric and 1/4tsp of oil for 5-6 whistles or till done and keep it aside.
• Add the cooked ridge gourd and some water to  the dal and bring the miture to a boil on a low flame.
• Add the salt, sugar and coconut and boil for 1 more min and take off the heat.
• For the seasoning, heat oil or ghee in a pan and add the mustard seeds
• Once they pop, add the jeera and rey till they turn brown
• Add the hing and the curry leaves and green chillies and  fry for a min
• Add the seasoning mixture to the dal and mix.
• Garnish with lime juice and coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or rotis.

P.S. I have used ridge gourd for this recipe. You can use other vegetables like coyote squash, carrots, cabbage or just tomatoes.