Bhoplyache Bharit (Pumpkin Raita)

Bhopla, Pumpkin in marathi, is one of the very few vegetables that I have despised all thoroughout my childhood. Infact, only recently I have started appreciating and enjoying its taste and also exploring the various options and ways of cooking this vegetable. So recently when I came across this recipe while scanning through Monisha Bharadwaj's Indian Vegetarian Cooking book, I  knew that I had to try it.

This dish goes perfectly well as a side dish with roti as well as rice.

Serves - 3 to 4

Spice level - 3
Source - India's Vegetarian Cooking by Monisha Bharadwaj

What you would need -

Red Pumpkin - 2 cups (peeled and cubed)
Yogurt - 1/4 cup
Green chilly - 2 (finely chopped)
Sugar - 1/2 tsp (Optional)
Coriander leaves - 3 to 4 sprigs (finely chopped)
Salt to taste

For tempering -

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Asafetida/ Hing - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 2 tsp

Procedure -

Take a pan, add the pumpkins in it and pour enough water to cover them. Let them cook till they are soft.
Drain the water and mash the pumpkins with a fork.

In a bowl, mix yogurt, salt, green chillies, coriander leaves and sugar. Add the cooked and mashed pumpkin to it and mix well.

Prepare the tempering using the ingredients mentioned under For tempering and pour it over the pumpkin at once. Serve cool.