Swaadista

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for a bottle gourd stir-fry, which serves as a fantastic side dish. Bottle gourd, also known as calabash or sorekai (in Kannada), is a highly nutritious and water-rich vegetable commonly used in various recipes throughout India. It’s an excellent choice to include in your diet, particularly during warmer weather.

This recipe is easy to prepare and perfect for meal prep. It’s a great addition to meals and makes an excellent option for kids’ lunch boxes as well.

While many people choose to peel the skin off the bottle gourd before cooking, I prefer to leave it on since it is fibrous and nutritious. However, feel free to prepare it in whichever way you like. Enjoy!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Yield: 2-3 adult servings

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized bottle gourd or sorekai
100g of green peas, frozen or fresh
2 tbsp of coconut oil or any cooking oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp chana dal or split chickpeas
1/2 tsp minced ginger
2 dried red chilies, split in half
a pinch of hing
a few curry leaves
1 small red onion, chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2-3 tbsp of shredded fresh coconut ( I have used frozen)
Chopped coriander leaves, for garnish
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash bottle gourd and cut them into 1/2-inch cubes and keep them soaked in water until used.
2. Heat oil in a cooking pan.
3. Add mustard seeds, and allow them to pop.
4. Add chana dal and fry them until golden brown.
5. Add minced ginger, dried red chili, hing, and curry leaves, and sauté for a couple of seconds.
6. Add red onion and sauté until translucent.

7. Transfer the cut cubes of the bottle gourd into the pan. Add green peas, turmeric powder, and salt to taste and sauté for 2 minutes on medium heat.
8. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until bottle gourd is tender and cooked through.

9. Taste for salt and adjust if necessary.
10. Garnish with grated coconut and coriander leaves and serve! Enjoy!

Notes:

Bottle gourd typically does not require additional water for cooking. However, if desired, you may add about 20-30 ml of water and cook it covered.

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If you tried this recipe, let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment below or tagging a picture of your preparation on Instagram @swaadista

Happy cooking, happy eating!