Gummadikaya pulusu-Pumpkin stew

Gummadikaya pulusu-Pumpkin stew

by Hb ~ Wednesday, July 22, 2009

No matter where you go, you are sure to find a board saying 'Andhra meals' or 'Andhra cuisine' welcomes you. Most of the people(Non-Andhra) I know think that Andhra food is way too spicy. They also have an impression that Andhra food is plain dal,some curry and podi/chutney. From what I know and what I have seen over the years, Andhra food is highly versatile. You will be awed at the variety of the dishes and the tastes.
There were some delicacies prepared by grandmom,few prepared by my aunt and few others by my mom. They are special in their own way. Next time I go to my grandmother's place which is a picturesque village flanked by amazingly green paddy fields, I will make sure to note her recipes. ac
Pulusu or tangy and sweet vegetable stew is such a dish, which is savored by everyone. After I saw it here, I remembered how we enjoyed it as kids. I see every now and then, how my cousins trick their tiny tots into eating vegetables by making this and mixing it with a dollop of ghee.

Ingredients:
Green pumpkin/Gummadikaya - 1.5cup(You can use drumsticks/Yellow cucumber/Bottle gourd or combination of them)
Tamarind - 1 tb spoon
Jaggery - 1 tb spoon
Salt - 1 tea spoon(adjust)
Chilli powder - 1tea spoon(adjust)
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tea spoon
Water - 1/2 Cup

For seasoning:
Oil - 1tb spoon
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tea spoon
Chana dal/Bengal gram dal - 1 tea spoon
Urad dal/Split gram dal - 1 tea spoon
Jeera - 1/2 tea spoon
Red chillies - 2
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Asafoetida - 1 pinch

To be sauteed for a minute and ground to a powder:
Nuvvulu/Til/Sesame seeds - 1 tea spoon
Chana dal/Bengal gram dal - 1 table spoon
Urad dal/Split gram dal - 1 table spoon
Jeera/Cumin seeds - 1/2 tea spoon
Dhania/Coriander seeds - 1/2 tea spoon

Procedure:
1. Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds when they start to splutter add other ingredients under section seasoning(in the same order).
2. Now add cubed pumpkin pieces and fry them for 1-2 minutes.
3. Now add tamarind paste,salt,chilli powder,Turmeric powder and jaggery powder.Add little water,combine and pressure cook for 1-2 whistles. The pieces should stay firm and cooked enough.If cooking over stove top cook for about 8-10 minutes.
4. Add the ground powder, mix and let it cook for about 2 minutes and switch off the flame.(Adjust consistency)

Serve it with rice and appadam(papad)/Dry side dish.


Note: Green pumpkin has high water content and cooks very easily. Other vegetables might need more time.