kumbalakai palya recipe | pumpkin stir fry recipe | seasoned pumpkin

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes
  • Total time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 3 Servings
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: south indian

Ingredients

  • ¼ medium sized kumbalakai / ash gourd / winter melon
  • 1 green chilli
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup grated / desiccated / shredded coconut
  • few coriander leaves (chopped)
  • salt to taste

for tempering:

  • 3-4 tsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp urad dal
  • 1 tsp channa dal
  • ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 dried red chillies
  • a pinch of asafoetida / hing
  • few curry leaves

Method

  1. chop the kumbalakai / ash gourd / winter melon into small cubes separating seeds and skin. also finely chopped chilli and coriander leaves. keep it aside.
  2. in a large kadai, heat oil and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, channa dal, red chilli and hing.
  3. when it starts to splutter, add green chilies and curry leaves. saute for 30 sec.
  4. then add chopped kumbalakai (ash gourd or winter melon).
  5. also add turmeric powder and saute for a minute.
  6. now add ½ cup of water.
  7. season with some salt to taste.
  8. cover with the lid and cook for 5 minutes in low flame. stir in between so that kumblakai cooks uniformly.
  9. once they are cooked add fresh/desiccated/shredded coconut and give a good mix.
  10. finally add some coriander leaves and serve.
  11. serve kumbalakai palya with chapathi or steamed rice and sambar.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.