Aanapakaya (Bottle Gourd) / Beerakaya Nuvvupodi Kura

Ingredients:

• Aanapakaya - 1 No's Medium
• Mustard Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
• Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Tsp
• Urad Dal - 1 Tsp
• Chana Dal - 1 Tsp
• Red Chillies - 1 No's
• Curry Leaves - 1 Strand
• Turmeric - 1/4 Tsp
• Salt - 1 Tsp
• Hing - 1/4 Tsp
• Oil - 4 Tsps
• Sesame Seeds Powder - 3 Tsps

Preparations:

1. Take Oil in a pan. Add Chana Dal and  Urad Dal and fry till it turns red. Add Mustard and Cumin seeds and let them Pop. Add Turmeric, Hing, Curry leaves and Red Chillies and stir fry for few seconds.
2. Add peeled and cut Bottle Gourd pieces to seasoning and cook covered on a medium flame for another 15-20 minutes. Add water at this stage, if required.
3. Cook till bottle gourd is soft and water evaporates.
4. Add required Salt and Sesame seeds powder and mix well.
5. Turn off heat and serve hot with Rice.

Tips:

•  We can also use  Birakaya / Ridge Gourd instead of Aanapakaya and do the same curry.
• Add little salt as sesame seeds powder also has salt in it. 
  
• Refer to Nuvvu podi recipe for Sesame seeds powder.