Ashgourd & dry shrimps curry

Ingredients :

1 Kg of Ashgourd
3/4 cup of dried shrimps

For grinding the Masala
7 dry red chillies
1 tsp cumin seeds
3 tsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 flakes of garlic
1 small onion
1 lemon size tamarind
10 tsp desiccated coconut
4 tbsp coconut milk powder

Grind the above masala with 1 cup of water to a fine paste. keep it aside.

Peel the ash gourd and cut it into small cubes as below.




















Dry roast in a pan the dry shrimps till you get a nice aroma. Keep it aside.




















Take a vessel add the cubed ash gourd, ground masala & roasted shrimps.
Add 1 1/2 cups of water, add 1 tsp salt.
Let it boil on slow fire till the ashgourd is cooked (it will take approx 10-12 minutes) Ashgourd will appear translucent when cooked. Check the salt, if you need more add as per your taste. Put off the flame.

Now Temper the curry with 1 medium sliced onion and few curry leaves.

For Tempering :
Take in a frying pan 4 tbsp oil, once the oil is hot add the sliced onion till it browns, now add the curry leaves. Add this to the curry as below.




















Enjoy it with plain white rice.