Thread: parikkai pitla

Slight changes in Sambhar the spices roasted and vegetables used will result in another dish which is Parikkai Pitla. Piltai is not much favored because of the bitter gourd in it, especially kids. I know many homes that make it only for the annual ritual for the departed soul is performed (Shraddam/Devasom). The preparation is almost similar to Sambhar. . I usually cook with a light green variety of the Bitter Gourd(parikkai) which we get in my place. This is less bitter than the dark green variety. Infact, you can't taste the bitterness in the dish at all. When made as a stir fry with the addition of onions and tomato, you can easily pass it on as any other vegetable with the absence of the distinct bitter taste.

Bitter gourd - 2 medium sized

Tamarind - lemon sized

Tuvar dal - 1/2 cup

Turmeric

Salt

To roast and grind


Urad dal - 1 tspn
Chana dal- 1tspn
Red chilli- 3 nos
Pepper corn - 4 nos
Hing - few shakes

Grated coconut - 1/2 cup


Seasoning

Oil - 1 tblspn

Mustard seeds - 1 tspn

Curry leaves - few

Grated coconut - 1 tblspn

METHOD

Pressure cook tuvar dal till it is soft.
Wash the bitter gourd. Slit it open and discard the seeds. Chop into bite sized pieces. Extract the tamarind juice. Take tamarind extract, salt and turmeric. in a cooking bowl. Add 1/2 cup of water. When the tamarind extract starts to boil, add the chopped bitter gourd pieces. When the vegetable is cooked tender, add the mashed dal. Reserve the cooked dal water.


Roast the spices except coconut in a little oil, till they are light brown. Grind the spices along with grated coconut to a smooth paste. Add water while grinding. Dilute the ground paste with the reserved water and stir into the cooking pot. Adjust the salt and consistency of the gravy by adding water. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for few minutes.


Season with mustard seeds, curry leaves and a tablespoon of coconut. The coconut should be roasted till brown.

When preparing for Shraddham, moong dal is used and red chilly is fully replaced with pepper corns.

Wonderful dish.

I like it very much.

Please keep it up

All the best

good for diabetes people.