Ashgourd Sambhar (Winter Melon/Wax Gourd)

Ingredients: Ashgourd – 2 cups (peeled cubed) Dal - 2 handfuls Onion - 1 small chopped Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp Salt - 1 tsp/to taste Turmeric – ½ tsp Coriander leaves for garnish (Optional) To Temper: Oil- 1 tsp Mustard seed - 1/2 tsp Curry leaves - 1 sprig. Garlic - 2-3 crushed Dried red chilli - 1 broken into peices. Asafoetida - 1 pinch. To grind: Shredded coconut – ½ cup Tomato – 1 Onion – 1 small Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp. Jeera – ¼ tsp Method: Wash and drain the dal. Pressure cook dal and ashgourd for 2-3 whistles with salt, turmeric powder and chilli powder. Keep aside. Grind together the ingredients to grind. Heat oil in a vessel. Splutter mustard, add curry leaves, crushed garlic, red chilli and a pinch of asafoetida. Add the chopped onion and fry till golden brown. Add the ground masala and saute taking care not to burn until the raw smell is gone. Now add the cooked dal and ashgourd. Let it simme...