CELEBRATING ARRIVAL OF AUTUMN: TRADITIONAL PUMPKIN PACHADI

This time I used the pumpkin to make a popular side dish called pachadi from the state of Kerala. Some people dub it as South Indian raita while some call it a curry. Whatever may be the nomenclature, I love the flavours of this dish that are simple and refreshing. The best way to enjoy the pachadi is to douse steamed rice with it and dig in.

​So, here is the detailed recipe of the same:

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 2
Course : Main Course
Cuisine: India (Kerala)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Pumpkin cubes (1 inch size, peeled & deseeded)
• 1 cup Water
• ½ tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 Small green chilli
• ½ cup Coconut milk (Thick)
• 1 tsp Jaggery
• ½ tsp Salt or to taste
• 3 tbsp Hung curd

For the tadka/tempering:

• 1 tbsp Ghee
• ½ tsp Mustard seeds
• 5-6 Curry leaves
• 1 Dry red chilli

Method:

1. Bring water to a boil in a small, deep bottom cooking pot.
2. Add pumpkin and turmeric powder once the water has boiled.
3. Simmer the mixture for 15 minutes or until the water almost dries up and the pumpkin softens up completely.
4. Pull off the stove and mash the pumpkin to a smooth paste.
5. Slit and add the whole green chilli, jaggery to the pumpkin paste. Mix well.
6. Put the pumpkin mixture back on the stove on low flame. Add coconut milk a table spoon at time stirring continuously. Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes on low flame.
7. Pull the mixture off the stove, add salt and mix well.
8. Cool the mixture to room temperature and then stir in the curd. Mix well so that no lumps remain. Keep aside.
9. Heat the ghee in a separate sauce pan and allow to melt completely.
10. Add the remaining ingredients of the tadka once the ghee has melted and is hot. Allow the ingredients to splutter for about 10-15 seconds.
11. Pull off the stove and drizzle over the pumpkin mixture. Pachadi is now ready.
12. Serve the pachadi along with steamed rice.

So, do try out this recipe and let me know how it turned out.
Till then, HAPPY COOKING…