Sorakaya Pappu
A comforting Andhra-style dal made with tender bottle gourd, toor dal, green chili, and a simple tempering. It turns soft, mildly spiced, and lightly tangy, making it perfect with hot rice and a spoon of ghee.
For 4 servings
- prep · ~10 min
Prep the dal and vegetables.
1.Rinse the toor dal 2 to 3 times until the water runs clearer.2.Peel the bottle gourd and cut it into small cubes.3.Chop the tomato, slit the green chilies, and lightly crush the garlic. - pressure cook · ~20 min
Pressure cook the dal and sorakaya.
1.Add toor dal, bottle gourd, tomato, green chilies, turmeric powder, salt, and water to a pressure cooker.2.Mix once and close the cooker.3.Pressure cook on medium heat for 4 whistles, then let the pressure drop naturally.TIPBottle gourd cooks quickly, so small cubes help it melt nicely into the dal. - mix · ~3 min
Mash the cooked dal.
Open the cooker and mash the dal and bottle gourd lightly with a ladle until soft but still a little textured. Stir in the tamarind paste and add a splash of water if the dal looks too thick.
- temper · ~2 min
Make the tempering.
1.Heat oil in a small pan over medium heat.2.Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.3.Add cumin seeds, garlic, dried red chilies, and curry leaves.4.Cook for 20 to 30 seconds until fragrant and the garlic turns lightly golden.TIPKeep the heat medium so the garlic and chilies flavor the oil without burning. - simmer · ~4 min
Finish the pappu.
Pour the hot tempering over the dal and mix well. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes so the flavors come together and the raw edge of tamarind softens.
- garnish
Garnish with cilantro.
- serve
Serve hot with rice.
What to keep in mind.
7 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1Choose a tender bottle gourd; if the seeds look large or hard, the dal can turn watery and fibrous.
- 2Cut the sorakaya into small even cubes so it softens into the toor dal by the time 4 whistles are done.
- 3Let the pressure release naturally, or the dal can stay grainy and the bottle gourd pieces may not blend in well.
- 4Mash only lightly after cooking; a little texture keeps this pappu from becoming gluey.
- 5Add tamarind only after pressure cooking, since cooking it with dal can slow softening and dull the fresh tang.
- 6Pour the tempering over the dal while it is still sizzling hot for the best garlic-curry leaf aroma.
- 7This pappu thickens as it sits, so loosen leftovers with a splash of hot water before reheating.
Adapt it for your goals.
Vegan
Serve as is without ghee, or finish with a drizzle of neutral oil instead. The garlic-curry leaf tempering still gives plenty of richness.
jainJain
Skip the garlic in the tempering and use a little extra cumin and curry leaves for aroma while keeping the dal gentle and sattvic.
spicierSpicier
Add one extra green chili while pressure cooking or a pinch of red chili powder after mashing for a more Andhra-style heat.
no onion no garlicNo-onion-no-garlic
Omit garlic and increase cumin, dried red chilies, and curry leaves. Good for fasting-style or simple home-style meals.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Plant Protein from Toor Dal
Toor dal brings satisfying plant-based protein and makes the dish filling enough to pair simply with rice or roti.
Hydrating Bottle Gourd
Bottle gourd cooks down into the dal and adds lightness, moisture, and a gentle vegetable sweetness without making the dish heavy.
Digestive Spice Support
Cumin, garlic, curry leaves, and turmeric add flavor while contributing traditional digestive support to a lentil-based meal.
Frequently asked questions
It is better to add tamarind after pressure cooking. Acid can slow down the softening of toor dal and make the finished pappu taste less fresh.
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