Gujarati Thali (Recipe of Karela Batate nu shaak and Mithi Dal)

A Simple Sunday , Fun-day when we have Mangoes are around the corner and every house has a Sunday Lunch  Thali with AamRas... Yum ! 

Gujrati Thali (Sunday Lunch)

-Rotli
-Karela Bateta nu shaak (bittergourd potato sabji)
-Bhaat (Rice)
-Mithi Daal (sweet daal)
-AamRas
-MotiChur Ladoo
-Chaas (ButterMilk)

Mithi Dal (Sweet Dal) 

Wow ! Its mouthwatering ! Yes it is :) Having a simple dal bhaat is also heavenly food for me with a dollop of ghee 

Ingredients  : 

1 cup of cooked toor dal 

2 stick of cinnamon (cut them in half - 1 inch each) 

2 -3  cloves

some methi seeds 

pinch of asafoetida
salt to taste 
2 tbspn of chili powder
1 tbspn of turmeric powder
2 tbspn of coriander

4-5 tbspn of jaggery 

1 tomato 

few curry leaves 

ghee for tempering and adding later 

1/3 cup of peanuts 

How to prepare : 

- Wash Toor dal, add tomatoe and pressure cook for 4-5 whistles or till its cooked. 

- Mash Dal with the help of a Spoon and add some water. 

- Remove the dal in a container and in the pressure cooker ( you may use another kadhai too) add ghee , mustard seeds, asafoetida , cloves, cinnamon and curry leaves and once they splutter and add Dal and let it simmer for few minutes . now add salt, jaggery , peanuts , all spices and boil till it gets little thicker and Jaggery melts.  You may add little water to during this process. Add a dollop of ghee while serving. 

 

Karela Bateta nu Shaak : 

Karela nu shak or karele ki sabzi though not everyone's favourite but try this version and you will surely will feel that this vegetable should not be named as bittergourd.

This version has the sweetness of jaggery and raisins.
Preparation Time : 15 minutes
Cooking Time     ; 15 minutes
Serves : 2 - 3
Ingredients :
3-4 karela or bittergourd cut into long pieces
2 potatoes cut into long pieces
pinch of asafoetida
salt to taste 
2 tbspn of chili powder
1 tbspn of turmeric powder
2 tbspn of coriander cumin powder
4-5 tsp of jaggery
2 tsp of oil 
2 tsp of raisins 
How to prepare : 
Cut the potatoes and bittergourd into long pieces 
Removing their skin is optional. 
Remove the seeds of bittergourd and cut them in long pieces 
In a mixing bowl add bittergourd and a tsp of salt in  and mix well and keep aside for 5-10 minutes or till the bittergourd is soft to squeeze to remove the salt water.
Note : This process helps in removing the bitterness of bittergourd 
Heat oil in a nonstick pan or a wok , add asafoetida 
Add potatoes and saute on a medium high flame till they turn crisp and brown 
Add the squeezed bittergourd, salt and saute again and cover the lid and cook the vegetable for 8-10 minutes. 
Open the lid once the vegetable is about to get cooked and add turmeric, chilli , coriander powder, jaggery, raisins and cover the lid again for 5 minutes on a medium low flame. 
The jaggery will melt and make the bittergourd sweet. Open the lid and saute everything.
You can keep the lid open and cook on a medium flame if you want it little crispy / crunchy. 
Serve it with rotis and aamras.