Bittergourd Kootu

While checking my freezer yesterday, i got a packet of chopped & frozened bittergourd, thought of making a simple curry with it immediately i chopped onions and tomatoes, but finally i changed my mind and prepared a quick,healthy and easy kootu using those chopped veggies and frozen chopped bittergourd with yellow split moongdal and masoor dal, for my surprise this kootu tastes fantastic,mildly bitter..Definitely an excellent gravy to enjoy with hot steaming rice and pickles,a fabulous feast for bittergourd lovers like me..An interesting dal based bittergroud gravy to prepare whenever we are bored of having the usual curries and stirfries with bittergourd..Sending my own event Healthy Diet-Vegetarian Side Dish guest hosted by Vardhini..

1/4cup Moongdal
1/2cup Masoor dal
1cup Bittergourd (frozen & chopped)
1no Onion(chopped)
1no Tomato (chopped)
2nos Green Chillies (slit opened)
1tsp Mustard seeds+Urad dal
2nos Dry red chillies
1/4tsp Asafoetida powder
1/4tsp Turmeric powder
Few curry leaves
Salt
Oil

To roast & grind:
1tbsp Coriander seeds
1tsp Cumin seeds
3nos Dry red chillies
3tbsp Dessicated coconut

Roast and grind all the ingredients given under the list 'to roast & grind' as fine powder, meanwhile pressure cook the moongdal,masoor dal,chopped bittergourd with turmeric powder and salt with enough water upto 3 hisses...keep aside until the steam gets released

Heat enough oil, lets splutters the mustard seeds,urad dal,asafoetida powder, fry the red chillies until brown, now add the onions,chopped tomatoes,slit opened green chillies,curry leaves and saute until the veggies gets well cooked...Add the cooked dal-bittergourd mixture,already prepared spice powder to the cooking veggies,cook everything for few minutes,put off the stove..

Serve hot with papads along with rice or simply with dosas..