Potato Bitter Gourd Saagu

Ingredients

• • Potatoes - 2
• • Banana (raw) - 1
• • Bitter gourd - 1
• • Tamarind extract (thick) - 3 tablespoons
• • Salt - as required
• • Jaggery - as required

Ingredients For Seasoning

• • Oil - 2 teaspoons
• • Mustard - ¼ teaspoon
• • Asafoetidas - a pinch

Ingredients For Grinding Together

• • Bengal gram dal - 1 tablespoon
• • Urad dal - 1 tablespoon
• • Fenugreek - ¼ teaspoon
• • Red chillies - 6
• • Black pepper - ¼ teaspoon
• • Coconut (grated, fresh) - ½ cup

Method

• 1. Dry roast each spice in "For Grinding together" separately and grind with 3 Tablespoons of grated fresh coconut to smooth paste.
• 2. Scrape outer skin and slice vegetable into thin even pieces.
• 3. Add little salt to bitter gourd pieces, and keep aside for 1/2 an hour.
• 4. Squeeze out moisture and wash in rice washed water. (This removes bitterness)
• 5. Heat little oil in a frying pan add seasonings and then vegetables.
• 6. Fry for few minutes in medium flame.
• 7. Add tamarind extract, water and cook till vegetables become soft.
• 8. Add ground masala, jaggery. salt and cook till thick. (Do not boil for long time as fenugreek might turn bitter)
• 9. Serve hot with cooked rice.