Ridge Gourd Chutney

Overview
A delicious and unique chutney made with ridge gourd. This chutney can be served with Idily, Dosa or any kind of rice or chapati. This chutney is packed with nutrients and is good for you. You can use the whole ridge gourd, ridges peeled or the center portion of the ridge gourd. I used only the center portion since I used the outer part to make ridge gourd with Channa Dal.

Ridge Gourd Chutney

Ingredients
Center portion of ridge gourd  - 1 cup
Green chilly 2 - 3
Red onions - 1/2 cup chopped
Curry leaves 2 sprigs
Tamarind - the size of marble
Asafoetida(Hing or Kayam) powder a pinch
Olive oil
Salt to taste

To Garnish
Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Red whole chilly  - 1 broken to pieces
Urdu Dal - (optional)
Curry leaves 3 or 4

Steps
1. Chop the ridge gourd center portion. Mix it with chopped green chilly and onions and curry leaves.

2. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil and saute the chopped ridge gourd along with onions, green chilly and curry leaves. Add salt. saute till the ridge gourd is cooked well. About 5 minutes.

3. Grind this sauteed mixture with tamarind and a pinch of asafoetida to make a smooth paste. Add water as needed.

4. In another pan heat one tablespoon of oil. When the oil gets hot add the mustard seeds when the seeds splutter add the broken pieces of red chilly and curry leaves and Urdu Dal if using. Saute  few minutes and add to the chutney.

Ridge Gourd with Channa Dal

Overview
Ridge gourd as the name indicates in a green vegetable just a zucchini only that it is covered with ridges. The skin is a bit tough but is tasty and while cooking only the ridges are peeled out. In this dish I have mixed ridge gourd with Channa Dal( split chick pea) This is a dry dish which can be served with plain rice or Chapati.

Ridge Gourd with Channa Dal

Ingredients
Ridge gourd- 2 medium size ones
Channa Dal - 1/4 cup
Garlic 4 cloves - crushed
Shallot - 2 crushed
Curry leaves 1 sprig
Crushed red pepper flakes - 1 - 2 tablespoons
Turmeric  - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Olive oil 3 - 4 tablespoons

Steps
1. Wash and soak the Channa Dal is water for about 4 hours. Cook with water and keep aside.

2. Wash the ridge gourd well in water. Peel of the ridges

3. Remove the center seed section of the ridge gourd( this can be used to make chutney).

4. Make strips of the cleaned ridge gourd and then to small cubes. add to the cooked Channa Dal. Mix with salt and turmeric cover and cook for about 5 - 7 minutes till the ridge gourd is cooked well. Turn off the heat

5. In another pan heat the olive oil. When the oil gets hot add the crushed garlic and shallots to it. saute till it is light brown, Add the crushed red pepper flakes saute few more minutes. add the curry leaves fry few for minutes.

6. Add the  cooked Channa Dal and ridge gourd to the oil and mix well till all the liquid has evaporated.

Serve hot with plain rice or chapati.

Ridge Gourd