LAAL BHOPLYACHA BHARIT / RED PUMPKIN RAITA / लाल भोपळ्याचे भरीत

LAAL BHOPLYACHE BHARIT / RED PUMPKIN RAITA / लाल भोपळ्याचे भरीत  

INGREDIENTS

Red pumpkin pieces (peel, cut 1” thick cubes)	1 cup
Dahi / curd                   OR    Dahi / curd + Taak / chhas / buttermilk	1 cup            OR ½ cup + ¼ cup
Green chillies (crushed)	1 – 2 nos
Salt	T.T
Sugar (optional)	¼ tsp
Ginger (grated) (optional)	¼ tsp
Roasted peanut pdr	2 tsp
Rai /mustard seeds ground to paste with water (optional)	⅛ tsp
Coriander leaves (chopped)	2 – 3 sprigs
Oil (optional)	1 tsp

METHOD:

1.       Pressure cook the red pumpkin pieces till cooked without water. Remove and cool. Make sure you don’t overcook the pumpkin.

2.       Mash lightly with a fork so that most of the pieces get mashed and but still some retain their shape.

3.       When completely cooled add in the curd. Cooked pumpkin is very delicate so mix with a light hand.

4.       Now add the remaining ingredients and mix. You can also add all the ingredients in curd first and then mix it with the pumpkin.

5.       Sugar can be avoided as the pumpkin in itself is sweet. But if you like it a little sweet then you can add.

6.       If you like you can give tadka with 1 tsp oil on top, but make sure you give tadka to the mashed pumpkin before adding the curd.