Pumpkin Thogayal

Pumpkin Thogayal (chutney)

Thuviyal or Thogayal is the Tamil word for ‘chutney’ or spread. Any firm, yellow-fleshed squash/pumpkin can be used for this recipe.I usually makes thogayal with the addition of a vegetable –coconut, corriender, Ridge Gourd,Bringal white pumpkin, chow-chow, etc.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin

1/2 cup coconut, grated or slivered

5-6 dried red chillies (or to taste)

1/4-lime sized piece of tamarind

10 curry leaves

1/2 tsp asafoetida powder

2 tsp urad dal

2tsp channa dal

2 tsp oil

Salt to taste

water as required (approx 1/4 cup)

Method:

1. Heat 1 tsp oil in a small pan and stir-fry the sliced pumpkin for 2-3 minutes, till the slices start to soften. Remove from the pan and set aside.

2. Heat the second tsp of oil in the same pan and fry the red chillies, channa dal,urad dal and curry leaves till the dal turns golden. Remove the chillies and set aside.

3. Grind the fried chillies, coconut, tamarind, asafoetida powder and pumpkin together, using only as much water as required to make thick but finely ground mixture.

4. When all the ingredients are ground up properly, add the rest of the tempering along with salt to taste and grind for another 20 seconds, so that the dal are shredded but not completely amalgamated.

5. Serve as a side dish with idli, dosa, chapatis, or eat it mixed with ghee and rice with Papad.