Dudhiye Polthein / Pumpkin Chutney

This is a fusion of all flavors- Spiciness from chillies, Tanginess from the tamarind, Sweetness from the pumpkin and the Salt that goes with it. To top it all, the aroma from the hing and methi seeds makes it a curry that is very unique and difficult to resist for those who love strong flavors. Coconut is not added as an ingredient in this Polthein. This requires no grinding too. So quite an easy one ..Please try out !

Ingredients :-.

- Yellow Pumpkin – 2 heaped cups
- Chilli powder – 1 ½ tsp
- Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
- Tamarind – 1 big amla size
- Salt – as per taste
- Asafoetida (Hing) – ½ tsp

Seasoning :-

Oil – 1 tbsp
Mustard – 1 tsp
Udid – ½ tsp
Methi – ¼ tsp
Red chilly – 1
Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Method:-

1. Clean, peel and chop the pumpkin into medium sized cubes.

2. Heat a little water and soak tamarind in it to get a thick and smooth tamarind pulp. Keep this aside.
3. Heat oil in a kadai. Add mustard and when it splutters, add udid and sauté till it becomes golden brown. Now add methi, red chilli and curry leaves then sauté them.

4. Add pumpkin pieces along with chilli powder, turmeric powder and salt. 5. Pour 1 cup of water and mix well. Cook this until the pumpkin pieces are cooked well.

6. Now, add 3/4 of the tamarind pulp kept ready and mix well. Taste the curry to see if all the flavors are blended well. Those who would like more tanginess can add more tamarind pulp.

7. Add hing and stir well.

8. Finely mash the pumpkin using a spatula to a chutney-like consistency.

9. Cook the polthein until the excess water is dried off. Switch off the flame. 10. The polthein is ready to serve.

11. This polthein goes well with Paej / rice and curd. You can enjoy this with Idlies and Dosas too.

Note:-

You can reduce / increase the spiciness as per your taste since each pumpkin varies in taste (sometimes the pumpkin is ripe and sweet and sometimes bland )
The color and tanginess may vary depending on the variety of tamarind used. In this preparation I have used dark and sweet tamarind.