Courgette Dal Cha / Courgette Lentils Tangy Curry

Dal Cha is tangy lentil curry with bottle gourd in it. But when ever i don't find fresh bottle gourd in indian store then i use up Courgettes/zucchini instead. It tastes similar to the bottle gourd and Courgettes are summer vegetable and it is easily available in the store. This dal cha can be served with boiled plain rice, pulao or biryani's.
Courgettes/Zucchini are british summer vegetable and known as summer squash. Courgettes are versatile and can be fried, blanched, steamed, soups and even in breads. They come in different colours (yellow,green..) and shapes and they resemble as cucumber.

Level: Moderate 

Cooking time: 45 mins
Serves: 4
1 cup = 240 ml

Ingredients

Courgette: 3 small (500gm)
Tomato: 100gm
Chana Dal: 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Chilli powder: 1 teaspoon (to taste)
Sambar Powder: 1 teaspoon
Coriander Powder (daniya ): 1 teaspoon
Tamarind: 1 golf size
Salt to taste
Oil: 1 teaspoon

Tempering:
Curry leaves: 5-6
Mustard Seeds: 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds: 1 teaspoon
Onion: 100gm
Oil: 2 tablespoon
Ginger Garlic Paste: 1 teaspoon

Directions
Preparation:
Wash and soak Chana dal for 3o mins.
Peel, wash and Cut the Courgettes 2x1 inch.
Chop onion thin length wise.
Chop tomatoes.
Chop fresh coriander
Soak tamarind in warm water (1 cup).

Method:
In pressure cooker add chana dal, tomato, turmeric powder, chilli powder and 1.5 cups of water and hear 3-4 whistles until dal is soft.
While the dal is cooking, in a pan add 1 teaspoon of oil and add courgettes and fry till they are tender.
Press and squeeze the tamarind and remove the pulp from the tamarind juice. 
TADKA: In a pan add 2 tablespoons of oil, add mustard seeds. when mustard seeds start splattering add cumin seeds, curry leaves and then add chopped onions. Fry until onions are soft and add ginger garlic paste. Fry for a minute.

Once the Dal is cooked, use hand mixer and blend it to thin paste.Now add Courgettes, Coriander powder, Sambar Powder, tamarind juice, salt and tadka and Cook for  15 minutes on medium flame.Check the consistency and add more hot water for desired consistency.
Garnish with coriander and serve.

Wanna try....let set go....