Peerkangai dal is a popular Indian dish made with ridge gourd (also known as luffa or turai) and lentils. It is a nutritious and comforting dish that is often served with rice or roti. To make ridge gourd dal, the ridge gourd is peeled, chopped and cooked with lentils, spices, and herbs to create a flavorful and hearty dish. It is a great way to incorporate vegetables into your diet and is perfect for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Ridge Gourd (Peerkankai) Dal is a simple, comforting dal made by cooking peeled, cubed ridge gourd with rinsed green gram dal (payatham paruppu), slit green chilies, and a pinch of turmeric in a pressure cooker—just enough water to cover—until two whistles. Once it settles, open the cooker, add salt, and mash to a creamy consistency. Finish with a fragrant tempering of mustard seeds, cumin, asafoetida, chopped onions, and curry leaves, then stir it into the dal for a warm, savory South Indian finish.
Peerkangai Dal Recipe
Peerkangai Dal
Learn how to make a delicious Ridge Gourd and green gram dal gravy that pairs perfectly with rice or Chapati. A simple and flavorful dish!
4
servings5
minutes15
minutesIngredients
Ridge Gourd (Peerkangai) – 2 to 3
Green Gram Dhal – ½ cup
Turmeric Powder – A Pinch
Green Chillies – 2 to 3
Salt – ½ teaspoon or as per taste
- For seasoning:
Oil – 1 Teaspoon
Mustard – ¼ teaspoon
Jeeragam (Cumin) – ½ teaspoon
Asafoetida Powder – 2 Pinches
Chopped onion – 1 tablespoon (optional)
Curry Leaves – Few
Directions
- Peel the Ridge Gourd and chop it into small cubes.
- Rinse the green gram dal (Payatham paruppu) and place it in a pressure cooker. Include the Ridge Gourd pieces, slit green chilies, and a pinch of turmeric powder.
- Pour in enough water to submerge the vegetables and pressure cook until you hear two whistles.
- After a few minutes, open the cooker, season with salt, and mash the mixture.
- For seasoning, heat mustard, cumin, asafoetida, chopped onions, and curry leaves in a pan and add to the mash.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Adding onion in the seasoning is optional and you can omit the onion and make it No onion dal also.
Daily I visit your site and is very useful.
Thank you Lakshii.
Hi Ms. I have tried this menu. Its comes out very well but got bitter taste. Any idea ?
Normally ridge gourd will not be bitter. I am not sure where you reside and bought the ridgegourd. May be the variety of ridge gourd you bought is bitter type gourd.