Kuvvale Sasam ~ Wintermelon in Mustard Coconut Gravy

Kuvvale means Wintermelon or Ash gourd and Sasam means mustard seeds.  This dish is made by adding boiled Wintermelon in Mustard and coconut gravy. This dish is usually prepared on various auspicious occasions such as Sathyanarayan Pooja, Temple car festival etc. Till date the best of this dish that I have ever tasted is during the Venkatramana temple Car festival. 

This dish is not very spicy and goes well with white rice. It is simple to make too.

Here is whats needed:

11/2-2 cups of cubed Winter melon

To grind into coarse paste:

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1 cup grated Coconut 

3-4 fried red Chilli's

small piece of Tamarind

Salt to taste

For seasoning:

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

6-7 Curry leaves

Oil

Procedure:

1) Boil Winter melon in suffecient water until they are done. Do not overcook it.

2) Make a masala with grated Coconut + red Chilli's + Tamarind + Salt + Mustard seeds and little water. Do not grind it to a fine paste.

3) Add the ground masala to Winter melon. Add water if needed to bring it to suffecient consistency. Check for salt. Let it come to a good boil before removing it from flame.

4) Prepare seasoning by heating a little Oil (preferably Coconut oil). Add Mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add Curry leaves and pour the seasoning over the gravy. Serve hot.