Butternut squash pulusu, is a delicious tamarind based gravy prepared with butternut squash, with little hint of sweet and tang. It just takes around 30 minutes to cook and even a beginner at cooking can make this ease. This recipe is very nutritious,rich in flavours, and requires very less oil. Also, a perfect amalgamation of spice, sweet, and sour. Make this healthy and delicious pulusu recipe and serve with some hot rice and a spicy vegetable stir fry.
This hearty stew is the ultimate winter recipe! With the goodness of butternut squash, and onions it is flavorful, hearty and makes a perfect side with rice/ roti.
What is pulusu?
Pulusu is a classic side dish from the Telugu cuisine. It is a tangy, spicy, sweet and hearty stew where in some kind of firm vegetable like Pumpkin, Ash gourd, okra are cooked in flavorful broth.
Ask any one from a Telugu household about their favorite combination with pulusu, they will answer a spicy potato curry. The tang from the tamarind , heat from the spices and chillies, sweetness from the jaggery gives this dish a beautiful flavor.
Once your taste buds get used to this taste, there is no stopping trust me!! If you are looking for something delicious and which gives you a burst of flavors with each bite, then definitely this is a must to try.
What all veggies can I use to make this dish?
Any firm vegetables like okra (bhindi), white pumpkin, drumstick, sweet potato, potato, colocasia/taro etc. yields a perfect pulusu.
What all ingredients we need for Butternut squash pulusu?
- Butternut squash
- onion
- Tamarind
- Dry red chilies
- Fenugreek seeds
- Curry leaves
- Turmeric powder
- and basic tempering
So, let’s start making the BUTTERNUT SQUASH PULUSU. Before that check out some more vegetarian main course dishes.
Stuffed peppers in creamy tomato gravy
BUTTERNUT SQUASH PULUSU
Ingredients
- 2 cups Butternut squash peeled and chopped into cubes
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 4 tbsp Tamarind pulp
- 3 tbsp Jaggery optional
- 3 cups Water
- Cilantro finely chopped
Spices
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Red chili powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- ½ tsp Ground fenugreek seed
For tempering
- 3 tbsp Cooking oil
- 5 cloves Garlic
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- 4 Whole dry red chillies
- 1 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
Instructions
Prepping
- Soak the tamarind in warm water for about 10-15 min.
- Peel and wash the butternut squash, later chop them into cubes.
- Peel and chop the onions very finely, or put them in a chopper and coarsely grind them.
- In a mortar pestle, add peeled garlic cloves and coarsely pound them.
Let's make the pulusu!!
- Heat a skillet or saucepan, add oil and once its hot add in mustard seeds, cumin seeds, torn dry red chilies, garlic, curry leaves.
- Now add in finely chopped onion and fry until onion turns light golden brown.
- Then add in turmeric powder, red chili powder, salt, ground cumin and give it a good mix.
- Now add in tamarind pulp, water and give everything a good mix. Cover the pan and cook until water comes to a boil.
- Now add in chopped butternut squash,jaggery, roasted fenugreek seed powder and give it a good mix. Cover the pan and cook until butternut squash turns tender. It might take around 10 mins.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning to your taste preference.
- Finally add in chopped cilantro and it's all ready to serve.
- Serve hot, tangy and sweet Butternut squash pulusu with some cooked rice and a drizzle of ghee, some fryums of potato roast on the side.
If you’ve tried this recipe and loved it, I’d love to hear your feedback by tagging your photo and share it with #mycurryveda on Instagram @mycurryveda or on Facebook .
