Khatti Arvi Ka Saalan

Serves: Four
Time required: 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
16 medium sized arvi
2 tsp (10 ml) lemon juice
5 tbs (75 ml) oil
8 flakes (16 g) garlic
1/2-tsp (2 g) mustard seeds
1/2-tsp (2 g) cummin seeds
1 tsp (5 g) urad dal
4 whole dried red chillies
16 curry leaves
200 g onions, chopped fine
3/4 cup (180 ml) fresh tomato puree
4 tbs (60 ml) Tamarind pulp
3 tsp (15 g) coriander powder
1 1/2 tsp (7 g) chilli powder
1 tsp (5 g) turmeric powder
1 tbs (15 g) jaggery
Salt to taste

METHOD:
- Wash the arvi thoroughly and cook with enough water till done.
- Add lemon juice and bring to a boil again.
- Drain. When cool, peel and quarter lengthwise and reserve in a panful of water.
- Grate the jaggery and reserve in three tbs water.
- Heat oil in a pan.
- Add garlic and saut over medium heat until light brown.
- Add mustard seeds, cummin seeds, urad dal and whole red chillies.
- Stir until the seeds begin to crackle.
- Add curry leaves.
- Stir for a minute.
- Add onions and saut until golden.
- Add tomato puree, tamarind pulp, chilli powder and turmeric powder.
- Stir-fry until the oil floats on top.
- Add salt and three cups water.
- Bring it to a boil. Lower the heat, add arvi and jaggery.
- Bring it to a boil again.
- Lower the heat, simmer, stirring occasionally, until the gravy reaches thin sauce consistency.
- Remove and adjust the seasoning.

To serve: Remove to a serving bowl and serve with steamed rice.