Most delicious… flavorful and healthy Pumpkin Recipe!

Let’s get on to another flavorful day of recipe writing…..and this one is really special to me. A few years ago, I was suffering from an ailment wherein I was supposed to cut down on white or red meat and focus entirely on vegetables like bottle gourd, pumpkin, bitter gourd, and lots of such vegetables that may not have a pleasant taste but are a blessing for your body.

I was like any other child that cribbed every time these vegetables were served and it wasn’t helping. So, my mother who is an amazing cook and has pure magic in her hands decided to make these vegetables interesting for me. She not only innovated unique and attractive names for these recipes but also did wonders with them. I have thus decided to share one such recipe using pumpkin with my readers;

Ingredients

• Mustard oil (Kachi Ghani / cold-pressed, unrefined oil) – 03 tbsp.
• Mustard seeds – 02 tsp
• Curry leaves – 05 in number
• 500 gms diced pumpkin (cubes) – Please remove the skin and wash before cooking.
• Turmeric – 01 tsp
• Kashmiri red chili powder / deghi red chili powder- 01 tsp
• 01 dried red chili (optional)
• Salt- As per taste
• Jaggery / Shakkar (grounded) – please avoid using sugar.
• 1/2 tsp Amchur / chaat masala (optional)

Preparation

STEP 1- We would need a kadhai or a deep pan, heat the pan before you add mustard oil. Once the oil is added let it stay till the oil reaches its smoking point, then reduce the flame and let it stay for about 5 minutes.

STEP 2- Let us now add mustard seeds, curry leaves, dried chili and stir for 2 minutes till the mustard seeds start crackling. Please keep the flame very low at this point. It’s best to remove the kadhai/ pan from the gas range while you are at this step.

STEP 3- In continuation to step 2 once your kadhai is not on the gas range, please add the mentioned chili powder and turmeric powder. Mix them well for 10-15 seconds and then add the diced pumpkin. You must bring the kadhai back on the gas range when the pumpkin is added and on medium flame preferably.

STEP 4- Mix all the ingredients well and cover the kadhai with a lid for about 5-10 minutes on medium flame. Don’t remove the lid again and again. After about 5 minutes, open the lid and stir well.

STEP 5- It’s now time to add salt and mix it well. Cover the lid again for about 10 minutes, you may notice the pumpkin has softened, do not let it break. Poke one dice with a fork to check on the softening.

STEP 6- Well your dish is almost ready, add jaggery to this preparation and mix well. In about 3 minutes remove the kadhai from the gas range and plate.

You may add seasoning of your choice and there, our bowl of pumpkin is ready to be relished!