Lauki-Til ki sabzi ( Squash - Sesame curry)

Lauki is also known as Dudhi or Ghiya in Hindi , Sorakaya or Anapakaya in Telugu , Bottle Guard or Squash in English. It bears many medicinal properties. It is good for liver , it decreases acidity, treats urinary disorders and constipation , it acts as a medicine for insomina and many more.

If you need to know more benifits of lauki, please watch Baba Ramdev videos ;)

Here are the ingredients for this curry :

Ingredients :

• Lauki - 2 cups
• Sesame Seeds - 3-4 tbsp
• Slit Green Chillies - 2
• Red Whole Chillies - 1
• Oil - 2 tbsp
• Salt - to taste
• Turmeric Powder - a pinch
• Hing - a pinch
• Urad Dal wash - 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Curry Leaves - 1 spring

Directions :

• Dry roast sesame seeds and red whole chili in a pan. Keep stirring till they slightly change the color and gives out a nice aroma.
• Grind them into a powder when they cool down and keep aside.
• Peel the lauki and cut them into half an inch cubes. Keep aside.
• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, let them splutter. Add urad dal and saute till they turn slightly reddish.
• Add hing , curry leaves, slit green chillies, turmeric powder.
• Now add cut pieces of lauki, add salt, mix well. You can add little water to it, say, 1/4 cup. Not much because the lauki will also release some water.
• Cover it and cook for 15 minutes stirring a couple of times in between. If you think the curry is too dry and is sticking at the bottom, add another 1/4 cup of water and cook.
• Check with the help of a fork if the lauki is cooked well and is tender.
• When it is cooked, add the sasame powder to the curry and mix well. Cook it for another 3-4 minutes uncovered. Let all the water evaporate. Turn off the heat.
• Serve with plain steamed rice or chapati.