Bottle Gourd & Toor dal curry

I recently went to an Asian shop and saw Bottle Gourd. I immediately bought it, but was very confused later, as I was completely clueless about what to cook with it. I immediately called up mom and she gave me a healthy recipe. I was very easy to prepare and I am sure several variation of the same are already available out there.

Ingredients:

Bottle gourd - 3 cups

Yellow moong dal - 1 cup

Dried coconut powder - 1/2 cup

Dry red chillies - 3 

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

Rice flour - 1 tbsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Urad dal - 1 tsp

Curry leaves - 1 spring

Hing - 1 pinch

Salt - to taste

Chilli powder - to taste

Water - as needed (1.5 to 2 cups)

Procedure:

1. Grind Coconut powder, red chillies, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and rice flour in to a fine paste. 
2. Add chopped bottle-gourd, moong dal, salt and water in a cooking pot. Cook for about 15 to 20 mins till the dal and Bottle-gourd are cooked well.
   
3. Add in the paste from step-1 and bring it to boil. 
4. In a separate pan heat oil and add mustard seeds. Once they start crackling, add urad dal, curry leaves, hing and mix well. 
5. Add this tempering to the curry from step-3 and mix well. Let it cook for few seconds and serve. 

Enjoy with some hot rice or hot chapathis!!

Note: If you could get fresh coconut, its better use that.