Black-eyed peas and Lauki

An easy, complete meal that has protein and vegetables in one package.  Lauki is called chorakka in Malayalam.  B eats this with chapathi, I eat it with rice.

1 cup payaru (black eyed peas)

1/2 a large chorakka (lauki) chopped into medium sized pieces

2 small or 1 big thakkali (tomato)

1 tbsp neyyu (ghee) or regular oil

1 tsp jeerakam (cumin seeds)

3 vara malagu (dried red chillies)

1/2 tsp omam (ajwain/caraway)

1/4 tsp manjappodi (turmeric powder)

1 tsp uppu (salt) or to taste

2 or 3 tbsp pachakothamalli (fresh coriander leaves) (optional)

Wash the payaru and pressure cook with about 2 1/2 cups of water.

Heat neyyu.  When hot, add jeerakam and vara malagu. When roasted, add omam.  After a few seconds, add the chopped chorakka and about a cup of water.  Add the thakali.  Add the manjappodi and uppu.  Turn the heat to medium low, cover and cook till the vegetable is done.  Add the payaru.  If you wish, add the pacha kothamalli at this point and bring to a boil.  Turn off the heat and cover the vessel till mealtime.