Cucumber (Dosakaya) Dal

Dal is a very healthy food, particularly for the vegetarians.  It is the good combination either with rice or chapathi. With most of the vegs. we can prepare dal. Some use moong dal some use chana dal. But we andhra people use tuar dal (kandhi pappu). 

Ingredients:

- tuar dal                      1 cup
- round cucumber        1 medium size
- tomato                       1 medium
- chilies                        1-3
-tamarind                     small piece
-turmeric                     1/4 tsp
- fenugreek powder     pinch(opt)
- garlic                         1-4 cloves(opt)
- red chili powder(opt)
- salt


Tarka:

1 tsp oil
1 tsp split urad dal
1 red chilli (optional)
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp jeera
2 curry leaves

Procedure:

- take the dal in a small pressure cooker as it is tough to cook directly. wash it and pour 2 cups of water and soak for 1/2 hr.
- now add chopped vegs and all other ingredients except saltand red chili powder. put whistle and cook on medium flame for 3 whistles.
- when its time to remove the whistle, remove the lid, add salt and tarka and cook on high flame till the bubbles come. 
-turn off the flame and serve it.

tarka:
-take oil in a small pan (khadai) and heat it. Add  urad dal, mustard seeds, jeera, red chilli one by one. Fry them till the urad dal turns into light yellow colour. Now add curry leaves. Add it to dal.

Tips:

- if there is no time to soak, add 1tsp of oil or ghee to the dal before adding vegs.
- dont mix the veg before cooking. just keep it one the dal.
- depending upon your taste change the water quantity. You can add water even at the time of boiling.
- if there is no time to add tarka, skip it. But at that time dont forget to add oil, preferably at the time of cooking.
- dont skip to keep it on the flame after removing the lid, to get better taste.
- you can add sugar also if you like sweetness.
- dont forget to check the taste of cucumber as some times it may be bitter. Dont substitute with kheera.