It’s the day of Dussehra but…

Today is Dussehra, the 10th of the Navratri festival. I did not do much as far as the celebration goes but offered my prayers.

After having a long day I was contemplating on my way back home what to cook. I was in a mood to make something yummy yet healthy; apparently the two always don’t seem to together. I then went through the list of vegetables that I had in my refrigerator and decided to make something with Winter Melon or otherwise called as Ash gourd in Asian countries.
Now, why did I pick this vegetable among the many that I have lying in my refrigerator? Well, I suppose after a long hard working day I wanted something not only tasty but also that could give me more life energy. Yes, that is correct, winter melon has the highest level of life energy. In Yoga world, the life energy is called as the Pranic Energy. Having said these, I would like to share my recipe that made tonight.

Winter melon with lentils

Ingredients:

1/2 winter melon. When outer layer is taken and inside white flesh is cut to pieces it should give approximately 2 cups
1 cup cooked yellow lentils
1 medium onion chopped
1 green chilly
1 medium size tomato
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp sambar powder (Optional)
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp white lentil or Urad
Salt to taste

In a sauce pan, heat oil. Then add mustard seeds and white lentils. Once the mustard splutters and the lentils turn golden brown add the onions and saute for a few minutes until translucent.Then add the winter melon and saute a couple of minutes. Now add some water until the surface of melon, cover with a lid and let it cook. Once cooked half way through, add the tomatoes, yellow lentils, turmeric powder, salt. Mix well and cook until the melon becomes soft. Serve hot with rice or Chappatis or Rotis or Naan bread or Tortillas.