Pavakai Pitla

Pitla is another gravy that can be made out of pavakkai/bitter gourd or brinjal.Adding kabuli chana is optional but it enhances the taste.

This recipe serves 2.

Ingredients:

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• Pavakkai - 1 large or Brinjal - 4 medium sized
• Kabuli chana - 1 cup
• tamarind juice - 1 cup
• Jaggery - lemon sized
• salt - to taste
• turmeric powder - a pinch
• tuar dhal - 3/4 cup

For grinding:

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• Coconut(shredded) - 6 tsp
• Pepper corns - 8 to 10
• Broken urad dal - 2 tsp
• Red chillies - 3 to 4
• Curry leaves - few

For tempering:

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• oil - 1 tsp
• mustard seeds - 1

Method:

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• Chop pavakai/brinjal finely and saute in a tsp oil till it becomes slightly roasted.
• Add tamarind juice,salt,jaggery,turmeric powder and cook till raw smell goes off.
• Add the cooked tuar dhal and mix well.
• In a tava,add 1 tsp of oil and pepper corns.When it splutters,add urad dal,red chillies,curry leaves,shredded coconut and roast well till it turns golden brown .
• Set aside to cool and grind to a fine paste.
• Add the ground masala to the gravy and allow it to boil.
• Temper with mustard seeds.
• Roast 2 tsp of shredded coconut in a tsp of coconut oil and add to the pitla.(This is optional)