Dosakaaya Pappu ~ Cucumber Dal

The Indian Cucumber (Dosakaaya) is one of my Favourite in Vegetables.In South India,almost all the people use to cook dals with combining any Vegetable and any Vegetable dal looks fully while serving on a plate.The dal makes us our belly to fill.I like to eat Dosakaya in any combination like Chutney,Pickle,Curry and Dal.I used to eat it as my regular meals in India.The Dal tastes good in mixing in rice, with little ghee and if we eat along with Butter chillies,Papads tastes very yummy..yummy. But became little bit tough  in Torrance,to get it all time for me.Living in Torrance,After One year,I got the Indian Dosakaya from Vegetable market.Today ,I prepared dal and soon posting for all of you to cook and taste.

Ingredients:

• Dosakaya/Cucumber- 1no medium size
• Onion- 1 no
• Green chilies-3 no
• Redchillipowder-1/2tbsp
• Salt to taste
• Haldi- a pinch
• Water- 1 1/2 cup
• Tamarind-1/2 inch
• Kothimeer/Cilantro/Coriander leaves- few handful

Tadka/Seasoning/Taalimpu:

• Oil-
• Cuminseeds-
• Mustard seeds-
• Curryleaves-
• Redchilies-2
• Hing/Inguva/Asafoetida- a pinch

Cooking Method:

• Take the Cucumber,peel of the outer skin and clean it with water.
• Cut in to medium size cubes ,check the seed and taste of the vegetable sometimes may tastes bitter.
• Chop the onions and Greenchilies and keep it aside.
• Take a vessel ,add the Kandipappu/Toor dal wash it with water a twice.
• Add the water,haldi,Greenchilies ,onions and tamarind to the dal.
• Close the lid by keeping the weight.
• Allow to cook for 4 whistles.
• Meanwhile take a hard bottomed vessel for seasoning.
• Heat it with oil,add the cumin and mustard seeds,when they starts crackle,break the redchilies in to small pieces and add it.
• Add the curryleaves and asafoetida a pinch and turn off the flame and keep it aside.
• Once the pressures comes down,remove the lid and mash the dal with laddle.
• Keep it again on the gas under a low flame,add salt and red chillypowder and allow to cook till the salt and redchillypowder dissolves and bubbles out.
• Keep on stirring it with a laddle or spoon ,inorder not to stick the dal bottom of the vessel.
• Once it is done ,add the seasoning to the dal and allow to be on the gas for 2seconds.
• Turn off the gas and garnish with kothimeer.
• Ready to serve for your Meal !!

Note:

• The same dal can also be cooked using the Pachimirchi kaaram/Greenchilly paste.(Grinding Greenchilies and salt in a mixy jar)