Duddhya Upkari ~ Pumpkin Stir-fry

Pumpkin was not one of the vegetables that I loved eating growing up. Until one day I had the upkari made with this at our Venkataramana temple feast. From then on I have been eating this vegetable regularly and love it too. We usually use Pumpkin while making Valval, Sambar etc. When I had been to market here in Shanghai, I was actually surprised to see Pumpkin :) From then on this has been a regular veggie in our kitchen. 

This stir-fry is rather easy to make and goes well with steaming hot rice and Dal. Easy to fix during weekday dinner's.

Here is what's needed:

2 cups of Pumpkin chopped into bite sized pieces

2-3 Green Chilli

4 to 5 Curry leaves

2-3 tbsp grated Coconut (Decrease if you do not like it very sweet)

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

1/4 tsp Urad Dal 

a generous pinch of Asafoetida

Salt to taste

1-2 tsp Oil

Procedure:

1) Heat Oil. Add Mustard seeds when they splutter add in the Urad dal and fry until pink.Add Curry leaves and the Green chilli and fry for a min.

2)Add in the Pumpkin pieces, enough water for it to cook along with Salt and Jaggery to taste. Cook covered until 3/4 done.

3) Add Asafoetida and grated Coconut and mix well. Cook until done.