MORKOLAMBU

Serves for 4 people

Ingredients

1 cup ash-gourd pieces (bottle-gourd/gherkins/cucumber may be used instead)

3 green chillies - slit

1 pinch turmeric powder

Cook together with just enough water till soft.

1/4 cococut - grate and grind to a smooth paste. Recover adhering paste with 1/4 cup of water and mix it with the original paste -'masala'

Salt to taste.

1 dessertspoon oil

1/2 teaspoon mustard

1 sprig curry leaves

4 pepper corns - crush a little

1 cup butter milk

Procedure

Add masala and salt to the cooked ash-gourd pieces.  bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Season, remove from flame and allow to cool a little.  Add buttermilk, stir well and serve.

Note: This preparation will become very sour if it is served after some hours. to prevent this, bring it to boil after adding buttermilk.  the buttermilk might break up but the taste will remain unchanged.