Rasa Kaalan

Ingredients

ash gourd - 1 cup
yellow Pumpkin- 1 cup
(Both cut into cubes)
drumstick - 2 nos cut into 1.5" long
brinjal - 1 (optional)
Ladies finger - 5 nos cut into 1" long pieces (optional)
powdered jaggery - 1 tspoon
blended curd - 1 cup

Grinding
grated coconut - 1 cup
green chilly - 5 nos
black pepper - 8 corns
rice flour - 1 tspn ( I add rice flour for thickening of the gravy. Amount of coconut can be reduced)

Grind the above to a smooth paste and keep it aside

(no of chilly and pepper can be adjusted according to one's taste)

Seasoning
mustard seeds
Red chilly - 2
methi seed -1/2 tspn

Take ash gourd,pumpkin and drumstick in a vessel. Add water so that the vegetable pieces are immersed in water.
Add 1/2 tspn salt, pinch of turmeric and 1/2 tspn of red chilly powder. when these vegetables are half cooked, add brinjal and ladies finger pcs. Add powdered jaggery.
Once the vegetables are cooked, add the grinded paste. mix well.
When it starts to boil, add the blended curd. Add salt as required. (Salt added in the beginning is for the vegetables and now for the gravy).
When bubbles start forming, it should be removed.
When adding curd, it should not boil too much, else the gravy will become thin and taste also changes.

Add the seasoning and curry leaves.

Yummy gravy for rice is ready. This is one of my favorites of mom's cooking. Many a times I can't match her taste.