Turai Dal and crispy fried fish

Today, I was busy making some bead earrings and totally forgot to keep track of the time. But the time I turned to look at the clock it was almost 12 o'clock and I didn't make any preparations for lunch and my kiddos were getting hunggy (typo on purpose)
                      Anyway, so I made an effort to get lunch ready as soon as possible. And while things were still simmering I started feeding my kids so I forgot to take proper photos. So...the menu was Turai (Ridgegourd) with toor dal and papd or appadam and crispy fried Pollock fillets

Turai Dal (Ridgegourd with yellow pigeon peas)

Turai Dal

Ingredients:

1. 2-3 medium sized ridgegourd peeled and give it as taste test to check for bitterness
2. 1/2 cup yellow pigeon peas dry roasted
3. 1 tablespoon oil
4. 1 heaped tablespoon chopped onion
5. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, asafetida, finely chopped garlic, turmeric
6. 2-3 dried red chillies broken
7. few curry leaves

After peeling the turai save the peel for Ridge gourd peel chutney
Slice the ridge gourd into thin quarters and in a pressure cooker, cook the dal and turai for 4-5 whistles with a cup of water and turmeric. Open the cooker after the steam escapes and mash the dal
In a pan heat the oil and add cumin, mustard seeds, urad dal and chana dal and fry for 2 minutes. Add onions and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and fry for a few more minutes. If the pan is big enough add the turai dal to this or add this to the dal and simmer till it gets to the consistency of your liking. Garnish with handfull of chopped cilantro and enjoy with hot steamy rice and ghee.


Crispy fried fish (Pollock fillets shallow fried with spice rub)
Ingredients:

1. 3 pollock fillets cut into 3 pieces each
2. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, chilly powder, turmeric, coriander powder, ginger garlic paste
3. Oil for frying

Mix the spices together. Pat dry the fish and spinkle the spices on both side and set aside. Heat about 1/2 cm oil in a pan and drop the fish and fry for 5-6 minutes on each side or until fish gets crispy. Serve as is or with rice