KUVALE SAMBAR / ASH GOURD SAMBAR with home made Sambar Powder.

Ash gourd is known as Kuvale in Konkani .Sambar is a main dish that is common in South Indian meals.  Ash gourd Sambar is a lentil based south Indian dal recipe combined with a mix of Ash gourd pieces,and freshly ground sambar powder.

Ash gourd has a good amount of minerals and vitamins.All parts of an Ash gourd is useful for preparing so many dishes.You can sun dry the peeled skin and scooped seeds of an Ash gourd with Salt and deep fry. The flesh part can be used for making curries and Sambar.So no waste is there when you cut an Ash gourd.

Here a simple and tasty Sambar is prepared from a juicy Ash gourd using Tur dal and Tomato.No Coconut Masala is used.I have add home made Sambar Powder in this recipe learnt from my Mother.
You can serve this sambar as a side dish with Idli or Dosa for break fast and also with steamed Rice for lunch or dinner.

With the following ingredients we can make a tasty and lip smacking Ash gourd Sambar.

Ingredients :-

Tur dal.               - 1 cup
Ash gourd pieces-1 cup
Tomato.               - 2 medium size chopped
Salt.                     -to taste

For home made Sambar Powder:-

Coriander seeds.   -5tbsp
Urad dal.               -2tbsp
Red chilly.             -10
Jeera.                     -2tsp
Black Pepper        -1tsp
Turmeric powder. -1tsp

For Seasoning -

Coconut oil  .  -2tsp
Mustard seeds -1tsp
Jeera.               -1tsp
Curry leaves  . -few
Hing powder.   -1tsp

Instructions-

Wash and Pressure cook 1cup Tur dal for 5 minutes or till soft and mushy. Keep aside.

Peel the skin of a small Ash gourd. Scoop out the seeds and cut the thick flesh of the juicy Ash gourd into small square pieces. Keep aside.

For preparing Home made SAMBAR POWDER :-

In a pan dry roast 5 tbsp Coriander seeds till light aroma comes and keep aside.

In the same pan dry roast 2tbsp Urad dal along with 10 dry Red chillies till the Urad dal becomes light golden and chillies becomes little crispy. 

Add in 2tsp Jeera and 1tsp Black Pepper and roast for 1 minute. 

Then add in the dry roasted Coriander seeds. Again dry roast all the roasted ingredients for a minute.Switch off the flame.

When little cool add 1tsp Turmeric powder and mix well.
When the roasted items completely cooled, grind all the dry roasted ingredients together to a fine powder. Let it cool for few minutes. Store in sun dried air tight glass bottle.

Method for preparing KUVALE SAMBAR :-

In a deep bottom vessel cook 1cup Ash gourd pieces adding required Water and  required Salt.

Add cooked Tur dal into the vessel and boil for 2 minutes.

Add 2 chopped Tomatoes or a lemon size Tamarind extracted paste and boil for 10 minutes.

Mix 5tsp  home made Sambar powder in little warm water without lumps and add this into the vessel and mix well with the cooked Tur dal and Ash gourd pieces.

When boiled well switch off the flame.

Heat 2tsp Coconut oil in a pan add splutter 1tsp Mustard seeds,then add 1tsp Jeera and few Curry leaves and fry well. Add this seasoning into the Kuvale Sambar in the vessel..

Lastly add 1tsp Hing powder  into Sambar and mix well
.
A tasty and yummy KUVALE  SAMBAR is ready to serve  as a side dish with Rice for lunch  and dinner and also with Idli or dosa for breakfast.

Try the recipe and enjoy the sambar.