Heerekai (Ridge Guard) Thove(Mysore special)

This is very simple,healthy and easy to make recipe.Very good when you are sick also,as it is light and easy to digest.Its actually a south Indian version of Dal.In many functions they prepare this and served at first with a tsp of ghee on it.good for kids too.If you don't get Ridge Guard then can manage with Zucchini also.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Hesaru(Moong/green gram dal) Belle
• 1 cup Ridge guard cut into small pieces
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1" ginger grated
• 3-4 green chilies
• 1 tomato
• salt
• 1" jaggary
• 1/4 cup freshly grated coconut
• lemon juice
• coriander leaves
• seasoning:
• 1-2 tsp ghee
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 mustard seeds
• curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 red chili broken into pieces

Method:
Wash 2-3 times green gram dal and add 2 cups of water,1/4 tsp turmeric powder .pressure cook the dal till three whistle.
Wash,clean and peel the ridge guard.now cut ridge guard into medium size pieces.
Cut 3 green chilies into two halves.
Take a wok add ridge guardpieces,cut green chilies ,1/4 tsp turmeric powder,salt,jaggary and little water and let ridge guard be cooked in medium heat.
when ridge guard is almost done that will take approximately 3-4 minutes .

Now take a sambhar pan add ghee and all seasoning,when mustard start sputtering add finely cut tomatoes and stir them properly.now let tomato be cooked properly.
Meanwhile ground together coconut,1 green chili,ginger and half of coriander leaves.

Finally add this coconut paste,cooked ridge gaurd with green chili and water and cooked lentil(dal) in above pan and stir them thoroughly.
Let them simmer for 3-4 minutes .Finally garnish the Thove with coriander leaves and lemon juice.

Serve hot with plain rice or chapati too.