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Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils

Name: Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 200 g Split chickpeas, soaked 30 minutes; 400 g Bottle gourd, peeled, cubed; 1 pc Onion, finely chopped; 2 pc Tomato, chopped; 1 tsp Ginger, ground to a paste with garlic; 1 tsp Garlic; 0.5 tsp Turmeric; 1 tsp Red chilli powder; 3 tbsp Cooking oil; to taste Salt

55 min Easy 4 servings

Serves 4 · Total 55 min · Prep 15 min · Cook 40 min

Updated on 5 November 2026

AI-generated illustration (Gemini)

A gentle, home-style daal where soft cubes of bottle gourd are simmered with split chickpea lentils until both melt together, then finished with a garlic and tomato tempering. Light on the stomach and easy to digest, it is a common everyday lunch served with rice or roti in Pakistani homes.

Quick answer: 55 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Split chickpeas, Bottle gourd, Onion, Tomato · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

Metric US

200 g 1 cup Split chickpeas, soaked 30 minutes
400 g 14 oz Bottle gourd, peeled, cubed
1 pc 1 pc Onion, finely chopped
2 pc 2 pc Tomato, chopped
1 tsp 1 tsp Ginger, ground to a paste with garlic
1 tsp 1 tsp Garlic
0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp 1 tsp Red chilli powder
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Cooking oil
to taste to taste Salt

Steps

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Rinse the split chickpea lentils and soak in water for 30 minutes.
⏱ Soaking lentils · 30 min
Drain and boil the lentils with turmeric, half the salt and enough water, until half done.
⏱ Boiling lentils · 15 min
Add the cubed bottle gourd and continue cooking until both are soft.
⏱ Cooking bottle gourd · 15 min
Lightly mash with a spoon so the daal thickens, and adjust water for a medium consistency.
In a separate pan, heat oil and fry the chopped onion until golden.
⏱ Frying onion · 5 min
Add the ginger-garlic paste and chopped tomato, and fry with the red chilli powder and remaining salt until the oil separates.
⏱ Tempering · 5 min
Pour the tempering over the daal, stir, and simmer together for 2-3 minutes.
⏱ Simmering together · 3 min
Serve hot with steamed rice or roti.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils take?

55 minutes in total: about 15 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking.

Is Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils hard to make?

Degchi rates it easy. The method has 8 steps, and 6 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils serve?

This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, red chilli powder, cooking oil, salt. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: bottle gourd, onion, tomato, ginger, garlic. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: split chickpeas.

Any tips for making Bottle Gourd with Split Chickpea Lentils?

Scoop out the bottle gourd seeds if they are large and hard before cubing. A squeeze of lemon juice at the end brightens the flavour.