Ash Gourd Curry - South Indian style

Ash gourd is one of the important sambhar ingredient for most south indians. In my home we prepare only sambhar, olan and halwa. But when I saw a curry in one of the television show, which is completely different, I wanted to try it immediately.
This curry can be had with dosa, rice or even chapathi!!!

Ingredients:
Ash gourd or kumbalakkai / kumbalanga cut into 1/2 " cubes - 1 1/2 cups,
Onion - 1 medium - finely chopped,
Tamarind - 1 marble sized ball,
Curry leaves - few or  finely chopped coriander - 2 tbsp,
Salt - as per taste,
Jaggery - 1/2'' cube,
Turmeric - 1/4 tsp.

Masala to ground:
Coconut - 1/2 cup,
Cumin / jeera - 2 tsp,
Dry red chilly - 3 - 5 nos.
Garam masala -1/2 tsp.

How to make:
1. Soak tamarind for 15 minutes in 1/4 cup water.
2. Cook ash gourd in a vessel or in a pressure cooker - about 1 to 2 whistles.
3. Grind all the masala ingredients to a fine paste, by adding little water.
4. Heat a vessel, add oil and fry onion till pink color.
5. Add ground masala and saute till the oil seperates.
6. Add cooked ash gourd, salt, turmeric, jaggery and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Add tamarind extract along with 1 cup water and cook till the raw smell of tamarind is gone - about 10 minutes.
8. Garnish with curry leaves or chopped coriander leaves.
9. Serve hot as side dish for rice or roti or dosa.