For The Love Of Your Heart - Butternut Squash

There are some vegetables that conjure up images of luscious cooked delicacies when one thinks of them!

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Some one mentions Bhindi/Okra and you think of Bhindi-Do-Pyaza or Stuffed Bhindi with a smile on your face!

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Talk about Gobi/Cauliflower and Gobi Manchurian makes your mouth water!

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Peas/Matar bring up warm memories of savoring the Peas Pulav or Matar Paneer at a roadside dhaba!

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Now, I've not seen too many folks jump with joy after the mention of Butternut Squash/Kaddu! But believe me, the simple yet elegant recipe that I'm going to share with you will dispel all the myths about this oft neglected vegetable, if I may say so myself :)
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Here is a quick and lip smacking tasty dish made out of the humble but nutritious Kaddu! This is my mom's recipe. I've to admit, as a kid I ran miles away from this dish, and now I can't seem to get enough of it :) It has it's well deserved position in my kitchen and on the dining table :)
I use the pressure cooker to make it in 10 minutes flat, can you beat that?
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Butternut Sqush/Kaddu Subzi

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1 1/2 cups chopped cubed Butternut Squash
1 onion chopped
1/2 tomato chopped (optional)
2 small green chili chopped (as per taste)
8 curry leaves
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1/2 tsp garlic paste (optional)
1/2 tsp tamarind paste or 1 tbsp lemon juice (souring agent)
1/2 tsp sugar
salt as per taste
1/2 tsp turmeric/haldi
1 tsp red chili powder (adjust as per taste)
2 tbsp coriander powder
Tadka/Tempering - 1 1/2 tbsp oil, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, 1tsp Saunf/Fennel seeds(Required)
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1. Heat oil in the pressure cooker/pan. In the absence of a pressure cooker, this can be made in a regular sauce pan, just that it will take a little longer to cook. I use the smallest pressure cooker, you may need to adjust cooking time as per your regular cooker timings.

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2. Add tempering ingredients and fry a few seconds till mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves, ginger, garlic & onion. Saute till onion turns translucent.

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3. Add tomato if using and fry for a minute.

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4. Add chopped kaddu and saute for a minute.

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5. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder.

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6. Add tamarind paste, if using, sugar, 1/2 cup water and pressure cook 2 whistles. If using a sauce pan, cover and cook till done about 15 minutes, keep checking to see if it done.

If using lemon juice, add now.

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7. Mash the kaddu a LITTLE with the back of the spoon.

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8. Garnish with coriander and enjoy this beautiful vegetable. It has such a khatta-meetha (sour & sweet) taste!
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This makes a great side dish for your meal with roti and some dal or yogurt. It tastes good as is with some bread.
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This is my contribution to Heart Of The Matter - Eating for Life! This time it is HotM - 4 Vegetables. Butternut Squash is a super vegetable full of nutrition.
Nutritional Qualities: The following qualities are available in one cup of mashed squash: 80 calories, 2 grams protein, 1 gram fat, 18 grams carbohydrates, with riboflavin, iron, fibre, manganese, omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamins A and C (source: The net).