Kumbadakai See

This is one of the easiest and is a very tasty dish. It can be made with Yellow Pumpkin (Kumbadakai), Ridge gourd (Peere/Heerekai) and Snake gourd (Patlukai/Padvalkai). The name 'See' (meaning sweet) derives from the end flavor of the dish. It tastes good with hot Rice and can be prepared in less than half an hour.

Ingredients:
Yellow Pumpkin- 1 cup
Turmeric- 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves- Few
Salt to taste
Oil- 3 tsp
Urad dal- 1 tsp
Mustard Seeds- 1/2 tsp
Red chilly- 1 (Broken into peices)

To Grind:
Grated Coconut- 1 Tbsp
Cumin seeds/Jeera - 1 Tsp
Note: Jeera is used only when preparing See with Yellow Pumpkin;complimentary taste (My Amma's suggestion!)
Red chillies- 2
Curry leaves- Few
Note: I prefer adding Curry leaves even while grinding as it adds onto the aroma of the dish and is also good for health. While eating, we usually pick them and keep it aside to throw away. Hence, grinding it along with the masala ensures that the healthiest ingredient of the dish is also is being eaten!)

Method:
Cook the diced Yellow pumpkin with 1/2 cup water. Add Turmeric and few peices of Curry leaves too. Since pumpkin cooks real fast, ensure that the heat is on low as they will get over-cooked and mashed up easily. Grind the above mentioned ingredients into a fine paste and add to the cooked Pumpkin. Now add salt to taste and let it boil for few minutes. In a pan, add 3 tsp of oil. Add Urad dal, Mustard seeds and 1 Red chilly (broken into peices). When the Mustard seeds splutter, add few Curry leaves. Pour this seasoning onto the dish and serve hot with Rice.

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes
Serves: 2 People