This stir fry is yet another healthy and yummy side dish to eat with chapatis or rice-dal. Bottle Gourd or calabash is a highly nutritious water-based vegetable that’s used to make many delicious recipes, and bottle gourd stir fry is one of those. It’s healthy, tasty, and super easy-to-prepare, making it a perfect weekday meal.

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

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized bottle gourd
100g of green peas, frozen or fresh
2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
1 tablespoons chana dal
½ teaspoon minced ginger
2 dried red chilies, split into half
A pinch of hing
6-7 curry leaves
1 small red onion, chopped
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
2-3 tablespoons of grated coconut
Chopped cilantro, for garnish
Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Wash bottle gourd and cut them into 1/2-inch cubes and keep them soaked in water until used.
2. Heat vegetable 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.
6. Add red onion and sauté until translucent.

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

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9. Taste for salt and adjust if necessary.
10. Garnish with grated coconut and cilantro. Serve hot with chapati/rotis.

Notes:

• Add salt and spices according to your taste and preference.
• Usually bottle gourd does not need the addition of water to cook. But if you feel the need, you can add about 20-30 ml of water and cook covered.

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