March
19
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The evolution of Lauki Lentil “Soup”
Do you have a recipe in your arsenal that has slowly evolved every time you’ve made it and become something quite different from the dish that you started out with?
This bottle gourd (lauki) and mung bean (lentil) recipe holds the record for the most evolved recipe in my repertoire. The recipe that I have shared with you is finally at the stage where we love it and perhaps we’ll keep it in its current avatar.
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This soupy dish started out as my husband’s recipe for a vegetarian version of dalcha made with bottle gourd and channa dal and spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. Over time I have experimented with different dals and ended up with split mung bean as the best option. I also added capsicum to the mix for an extra dimension to the flavour. The cinnamon and cardamom pop in and out of the recipe depending on my mood. Sometimes, I divide the dish into two and add the extra spices to one part only so that when we have the dish at the second meal, it will taste different!
You can have this dish with brown rice or even as a standalone, filling soup.
This recipe is suitable for diabetics, weight watchers, and soup savourers.
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My TIPS:
- Use tamarind paste instead of lemon and omit the cinnamon and cardamom to get a more ‘sambar’ kind of soup.
- Add lemon directly to your plate if you intend to re-heat the remaining soup because heating a dish with lemon may cause it to go bad.
- Add a smidgen of red chilli powder or cayenne pepper for an extra spicy kick.
- Use split moong dal without the skins for a lighter coloured soup and a little less fibre!
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What’s your most evolved recipe? Tell me some stories! 🙂
Sugarfree Sweetheart 
Excellent Illustration. Very well explained Priya.. and lauki and moong dal. couldnt have made it any more healthier 🙂
I know, right? The two “light” and “good for you” staples! 🙂
Loved the post!
Thank you! 🙂
The soup sounds delicious….. We make a lauki and dhuli moong sabzi in Andhra Pradesh and I can imagine experimenting with it using the techniques in this post. 🙂
And you’ve given me the idea to try the combination in sabzi form! Thanks Aruna!
It is on my blog… Check it out. 🙂
Ah, thanks! Will do!
Do you actually draw those pictures yourself?? They look so perfect! (and so does the soup :P)
Thank you, Elle. Yup, I draw, scan, and edit in photoshop. I’m hoping that as time goes by, I get better at the process and so can finish it in a shorter amount of time!
What a delicious and hearty looking bowl of soup! I wish I had a bowl of it right now, as I’m feeling a little chilled. (Tired of the snow now). I love your illustration of the recipe!
Thanks Angela! If only sharing food across the globe were as easy as sharing recipes! 🙂
Maybe one day! 😉
Love this!
Thank you Kloe! 🙂
I loved this evolved version :). Definitely a lighter take.
Loved your serving platters.
Thanks Sonal! 🙂 This serving set is so simple yet likeable, right? 🙂
Yessss :))). How are you doing with your writing?
Writing is in the most difficult stages now, Sonal – sketching out the plot framework. I’d say I’m halfway done. So I have to do the rest and then actually start writing the novel itself!
Look forward to it 🙂
Ummmm, I’ll have to try that during out winter here. Thanks.
=)
Yup, it’s warming enough for winter fare!
Love your recipe and your illustration!!! 🙂
Thank you! Means a lot, coming from the hungry artist! 🙂
I’m a bit like that with pasta bakes!! They get more and more evolved each time. This soup looks fantastic!
Thanks Becky! And oh, bakes are yum! 🙂