Paakarkaai (Bittergourd) Pitalai

Ingredients:
Bittergourd - 1 (medium size, fine chop)
Thoor Dal - 1/2 cup
Tumeric powder - 1 tsp
Hing - a pinch
Curry Leaves - Little
Coriander Leaves - Little
Tamarind - Lemon Size(soak in water)
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Sambar thool - 1 tbsp(optional)
Salt, Water, Oil - As reqd

Pitlai Masala:
Coconut - 1/2 cup(grated)
Dry red chilly - 6
Coriander seeds - 3 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Channa dal - 2 tsp
Pepper - 1/4 tsp
Curry Leaves - a sprig

Method:

• Strain the tamarind and set that aside.
• Add little water, turmeric powder and hing to dal and set aside.
• Heat oil in pan and roast the ingredients under "Pitlai Masala" except coconut and curry leaves.
• Transfer fried ingredients to a plate.
• Now to the same pan add coconut and curry leaves and saute.
• Add water and bend this masala to a fine paste.
• Heat oil in pan and add chopped bittergourd.
• Shallow fry this in medium flame and set aside.
• To the same oil add mustard seeds, curry leaves and saute.
• Add in tamrind water and salt and let it boil for 5 mins.
• Add in fried bittergourd and mix well.
• Add in grinded paste and mashed dal.
• Mix this well and add sambar thool and mix well.
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.