Lau diye Tetor Dal | Bhaja Muger Dal Uchhe diye | Bitter & Bottle Gourd Lentil

Lau diye Tetor Dal is traditional Bengali dal which is often cooked during summer days in bengali households. This nutritious lentil soup is also known as Bengali style Bhaja Muger Dal Uchhe diye or Moong lentil with Bitter & Bottle Gourd. This simple Uchh er Dal is easily digestible so it is mostly served with rice as part of light summer lunch.

Watch detailed Video of Lau diye Tetor Dal Recipe.

Read the entire recipe and Notes carefully before you start cooking. Do make sure all ingredients are at room temperature (unless mentioned) and weighed or measured correctly in appropriate weighing scale or measuring instruments such as cups or spoons. Remember these are not regular cups or spoons which is used in daily life.

SERVING & STORAGE:

Serve immediately with Groom Bhaat (steaming rice). A combo of Tetor Dal, Uchhe Bhaja (fried bitter gourd) Begun Bhaja (fried Eggplant), Alu Posto (potato in poppy seed paste) make a hearty warm vegetarian Bengali Thali (veg-meal).

Store Excess dal in airtight container under refrigeration and consume within 2-3 days.

Lau diye Tetor Dal | Bengali Bhaja Muger Dal Uchhe diye | Lentil with Bitter Gourd and Bottle Gourd

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

45 mins

Author: Rimli

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Bengali

Serves: 6

Ingredients

Yellow Moong dal: ½ cup
Lau, bottle gourd: 6-8 large chunks
Uchche, Bitter Gourd: 2, large
Coconut, shredded or powdered: ¼ cup
Warm water: 2 cups
For Tempering Oil:
Virgin Mustard oil: 3 tbsp
Bay leaf: 1
Dry red chilli: 1
Panchforon, Bengali five spice: 1 tsp
Dry Spices:
Turmeric powder: 1½ tsp
Red chili powder: ½ tsp
Sugar: 1 tsp
Salt: 1½ tsp

Instructions

Take a deep bottomed frying pan and dry roast yellow moong dal for 5-8 mins on low flame or until lentil changes colour to golden brown. A nice nutty smell will fill your home by now. Wash and clean the roasted lentil under running water.
In the same pan dry roast coconut until slightly browned in colour. Set aside until needed.
Cut uchchhe or bitter gourd into thin roundels and soak in water for 10 mins. Drain water and keep bitter gourd aside.
Boil 2 cups of water in pressure cooker. When water starts boiling add salt, 1 tsp pounded ginger and few drops of oil. this oil will prevent spilling of dal.
Now pressure cook lentil and large chunks of lau or bottle gourd until both are cooked yet firm (not mush).
Heat oil in another clean deep bottomed pan and fry thinly sliced uchhe or bitter gourd with turmeric, salt and red chilli powder until crispy.
Remove Uchche Bhaja aka fried Bitter Gourd from oil and keep on paper towels.
Add bay leaf, dry red chilli, remaining ginger and panchforon in the remaining hot oil and allow to splutter. You may add ½ tsp of ghee to the hot mustard oil at this point if desired.
Add previously boiled dal along with lau. Season the lentil with salt, sugar and turmeric powder and bring it boil.
Add fried uchhe (bitter gourd) and roasted narkel kora (grated coconut) and give it a light stir.
Add ½ cup warm water if you find the lentil is too thick for you and boil it for couple of minutes.
Serve immediately with Groom Bhaat (steaming rice). A combo of Tetor Dal, Uchhe Bhaja (fried bitter gourd) Behun Bhaja (fried Eggplant), Alu Posto (potato in poppy seed paste) make a hearty warm vegetarian Bengali Thali (veg-meal).