Recipe for Lauki Chana Dal

Today, the recipe I am presenting is Lauki Chana Dal. In this recipe, Chana dal ( split chickpea lentils) is cooked with Lauki (bottle gourd) and a few spices. It can be eaten with rice or roti and is a great lunch recipe. It is easy to cook and can be prepared in under 30 minutes.

In addition, split chickpea lentils are rich in proteins and fibre and keep you full for a long time. In this recipe, they are paired with bottle gourd, a very low-calorie vegetable. It is very light on the stomach and balances the heaviness caused by the chickpea lentils. The combination works great in terms of taste too. So let’s start with the recipe. 

Kitchen Equipment Needed:

1. Pressure Cooker: https://amzn.to/47gdnDa
2. Pan: https://amzn.to/3Qicd44

Ingredients needed for Lauki Chana Dal:

1. Chana Dal ( Split Chickpea lentils): 1 cup
2. Bottle gourd : 1/2 , cut into dices
3. Onion: Medium-sized, finely chopped
4. Tomato: Medium-sized, finely chopped
5. Green chillies: 2-3, slitted
6. Garlic, ginger paste: 1 tablespoon
7. Cumin Seeds: 1 teaspoon
8. Asafoetida: 1/4 teaspoon
9. Ghee: 1 tablespoon
10. Salt: 1.5 teaspoons
11. Turmeric powder: 1 teaspoon
12. Kashmiri Red chili powder: 1 teaspoon
13. Coriander Powder: 1 tablespoon
14. Garam Masala: 1 teaspoon
15. Fresh Coriander leaves: finely chopped for garnishing
16. Water: For soaking and cooking the dal

Method for making Lauki Chana Dal:

1. Wash the split chickpeas. Then soak them ( in about 3 cups water) for a minimum of 1 hr. Then cook them with bottle gourd and 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a pressure cooker with 3 cups of water.
   
   
   
2. Heat ghee and crackle cumin seeds in a Kadhai ( a deep-bottomed pan). Add asafoetida.
   
   
   
3. Add green chillies and ginger garlic paste. Fry for about 1 minute on medium heat.
   
   
   
4. Add onions. Fry them till they brown a bit. Then add tomatoes.
   
   
   
5. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder, and salt. Cover with a lid, lower the heat, and cook till the tomatoes become mushy.
   
   
   
6. Now add the cooked lentils and bottle gourd to this.
   
   
   
7. Cover and cook till it comes to a boil. Add garam masala, boil for another minute and take it off the heat.
   
   
   
8. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve with rice/roti/chapati.
   
   

Check out other recipes from my kitchen here.

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