parangikai (yellow pumpkin) vatral kuzhambu

We are very spicy eaters. I prepare vatral kuzhambu with different items each time and we end up having it with sesame oil poured on top of rice. I prepare it quite thick. It is our favourite. The side dish for this is curd pachadi. you can make it with lady's finger, onion and various other dry items.

Ingredients:
Tamarind -1medium lemon size soaked in water
Sambar powder - 4 tsps or as you prefer
turmeric (haldi) powder -1 tsp
Yellow pumpkin cut into quite big cubes .
asafoetida (hing) -a pinch
Salt -as required
Curry leaves - few



For seasoning:
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Fenugreek (methi seeds) 1 tsp
Whole red chillies -3-4
Chana dhal (bengal gram dal) 1 tsp
Oil - 2 Tblsps
Method:
Take a kadai and season with the seasoning items and roast them in oil.Add curry leaves and the pumpkin cubes. Now add the the thick tamarind water extracted from the tamarind and the add salt , turmeric powder, sambar powder, and hing. Allow it to boil and when the mixture becomes a little thick, remove from fire.
This kuzhambu can be had with plain white rice mixed with sesame oil. The side dish can be curd raita made of either cucumber cut into small pieces, onion, or even tomato cut into small pieces.