Kumbalakai Gojju/ Sweet Pumpkin Curry

Pumpkins are called Kumbalakai in Kannada. I learnt a kind of Kumbalakai curry from my mom that I relish a lot.This curry(called gojju in kannada) can also be made with okra, raw bananas or eggplant. But the sweet tinge of the pumpkin gives an amazing taste that you would not get with any other veggie....Heres the recipe for it.

Ingredients:

2 cups Yellow/Sweet Pumpkin chopped into 1" cubes
1 cup Fresh/frozen grated coconut
2 tsp Ellu/Til/Sesame seeds
3-4 Dry Red chillis, low to medium spiced
2 tsp Hurigadale/Putaani/Channa Dhalia
1 tsp Mustard seeds
4-5 curry leaves
1/4 tsp tamarind paste

2-3 tsp Oil
1/4 tsp jaggery
A pinch of hing
salt as per tatse

Method:

1. Heat oil in a kadai. Temper with mustard seeds, curry leaves and haldi.


2. Add chopped sweet/yellow pumpkins and cook covered until they become soft. Add very little (as little as 2-3 tsp) water while cooking.


3. Meanwhile, dry roast Ellu/Til and dry red chillies until you smell the fresh aroma of the masala.


4. Grind the roasted masala with chana dahlia,hing, coconut and mustard seeds to a smooth paste.


5. Add the masala paste to the pumpkins after they are cooked completely. Add water and allow it to boil.


6. To this add tamarind paste, jaggery, salt and boil well.


7. Serve hot with rice and enjoi!!