Nagaland Style Pumpkin Oambal Recipe

Pumpkin Oambal is a traditional chutney-like or side dish recipe from Nagaland cuisine. It is prepared from pumpkin and has a sweet and sour taste to it.  Course : Side Dish Ingridients : 300 grams Kaddu (Parangikai/ Pumpkin) 1 Tamarind , half the size of lemon 1/2 cup Water 1 teaspoon Oil 1 Dry Red Chilli , deseeded 1/4 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu) 1 Green Chilli , cut into 2 pieces, finely chopped 1 tablespoon Sultana Raisins 1 tablespoon Jaggery Salt , to taste Instructions To begin the preparation of pumpkin Oambal, in a microwave safe bowl, combine 1/2 cup water and tamarind. Microwave for about 30-40 seconds. You can also combine water and tamarind in a pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it cools down a bit, grind in a mixer/grinder.Strain this mixture and set aside.Wash and peel the pumpkin. Remove its seeds and cut it into cubes.In a wide pan, add pumpkin cubes and tamarind water. Cover with a lid and cook for about 10 minutes or till pumpkin gets cooked and becomes soft. Mash it with the help of a vegetable masher. Keep aside.In a pan heat oil and add dry red chilli and mustard seeds.When mustard seeds crackle, add green chilli, raisins, pumpkin mixture and salt. Mix well and add jaggery. Let it cook for about a minute. Remove from flame.Serve this sweet and sour Pumpkin Oambal along with phulkas or parathas, Tomato Onion Gravy Sabzi and Spicy Paneer Pulao With Vegetables for a weekday lunch.