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May 10, 2011

Ridge Gourd Pulao


        Usually I make curry with ridge gourd, for the first time I tried something new and it was really yummy. Recipe source - my Mom, yes few days back when I was talking with her she said that she made some masala rice with ridge gourd, brinjal & chayote combo. It was quite interesting to me. She was bored to cook for only 2(mom n dad) & making sambar, rasam n poriyal is too much for her to cook, so she made it to a one pot meal. I too wanted to try her recipe, but I bit changed and tried with ridge gourd,  potato n peas..this was new combo to me but was so good ..enjoyed with onion-cucumber raitha .Nutritional Benefits of Ridge gourd: Ridge gourd is loaded with nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin C, riboflavin, zinc, thiamin, iron and magnesium. It is also low in fat and calories.Cellulose in ridge gourd helps to overcome constipation and also aids in curing piles.A glass of Ridge gourd juice mixed with other healthy vegetables in the morning can help to strengthen your immune system against any infection. Now to the recipe...

Ingredients
  1. Basmati rice  2 cups
  2. Ridge gourd   1 and 1/2 lb(peeled and cut thinly)
  3. Potato  1 no.(thickly stripped)
  4. Onion   2  medium (sliced)
  5. Tomato  2 medium(chopped)
  6. Ginger garlic paste   1 tbsp
  7. Green chilli   4-5 no.s
  8. Mint leaves    3-4 sprigs( i used 1tsp dried mint leaves)
  9. Turmeric powder   1/4 tsp
  10. Chilli powder   1/2 tsp
  11. Garam masala   1/2 tsp
  12. Yogurt/thick curd   1 tbsp
  13. Salt   as per need
  14. *Croutons/Baked Bread cubes  1/2 cup (optional -check Notes)
To Temper
  1. Oil    2 tbsp
  2. Fennel seeds    1 tsp
  3. Clove   2-3 no,s
  4. Cinnamon   1" stick
  5. Bay leaf    1 no.

Method
  • Wash and Soak basmati rice for 20-30 minutes and 
  • Then heat enough water in a skillet add 2-3 cardamoms, 1/2 tsp oil and bring it to boil.
  • Once it starts boiling add rice and cook till rice is 3/4th cooked or about 80%  and allow to cool,make it spread in a wide plate and keep aside.
  • Heat a non stick vessel,add oil when it get hot add the tempering ingredients and allow to splutter. 
  • Then add the onions and green chilies and fry till onion turns pink. 
  • And add the ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell leaves. 
  • After that add chopped tomatoes and mint leaves ,and saute till tomatoes turn soft n mushy. 
  • Now add the ridge gourd and potato and stir well, and add turmeric powder,chilli powder and garam masala.,mix well and saute for 1-2 minutes. Then add yogurt n stir fry for a minute or two.
  • Then cover it with a lid and cook in medium heat for 3-4 minutes. 
  • If needed just sprinkle little water, and add enough salt and few chopped cilantro and again cook covered till the masalas blend well and the potatoes n peas get cooked. 
  • Now add the 80%cooked rice and mix gently and add croutons n some more finely chopped cilantro. 
  • And keep it in dhum(cover the vessel with a lid tightly) for some 10-15 minutes.. 
  • Now the delicious ridge gourd pulao is ready. 
  • Serve hot with raitha or curry of your choice.

Notes:
you can also add some cubed paneer (if in hand) to make the pulao even more rich n delicious.
Can also add some roasted cashew nuts along with croutons.
Ridge gourd doesn't require much time to cook, just 5-7 minutes so cut your potatoes thinly and cook until it get cooked.
*For Baked Croutons:
Preheat Oven to 250 degree Fahrenheit.
Just take 2-3 bread slices, cut into small cubes (if u don't want the crust remove that also).
Line a baking tray with aluminum foil paper, spray with cooking spray or grease it with oil, spread the cut bread cubes, drizzle little more oil all around the slices and bake it for 10-12 minutes or until it turns golden brown n crisp.


23 comments:

  1. Never thought of making ridgegourd masala rice, looks absolutely delicious and completely new..thanks for sharing Sangee..

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  2. Unique recipe Sangee..never had ridge gourd pulao..but it looks so yum. Nandini really sucks when it comes to eating veggies..I bet she will just eat the toasted bread and cashew out of the pulao :(
    Thanks for liking the caramel halwa post...do try it..tastes really yum. It's always good to have brothers..but they can be a pain too sometimes...but now after getting married I miss him so much..just get to see him once a year..I think sisters are cool..we can share so many things with them.

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  3. Oh.. Thats an entirely new rice dish.. Never tried Ridge gourd in rice.. Nice invention

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  4. Rice pottu suma kalakareenga :)another brilliantly yummy rice creation from you :) Engiyo poyiteenga :)

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  5. Thats indeed an innovative idea, interesting pulav recipe. Kudos to ur Mom as well.

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  6. Never thought of Ridge gourd pulao... Nice and innovative recipe...

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  7. That does sound delicious and interesting...

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  8. Creativity at its best ~ what a unique combo of ingredients dear! Loved the recipe to the core :)
    US Masala

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  9. hey dear nice recipe...i am reading this recipe for the second time this week....temptg me to try it out soon.

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  10. Very unusual combo of ingredients. Unique preparation.

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  11. Interesting .. never tried pulao with ridge gourd ..

    Vardhini
    VardhinisKitchen

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  12. Really innovative and interesting recipe Sangee. Pulao looks yum. Keep rocking.
    kurinjikathambam, Event: HRH-Healthy Summer

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  13. This indeed is an innovative rice dish. I am sure it would have tasted awesome, right.

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  14. Very innovative & interesting recipe ..Bookmarked this!!

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  15. This is very healthy and tasty! Great idea using ridge gourds...

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  16. Superb dish dear !! First time to ur blog..loving it. Following u....

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  17. dear friends,thank you so much for all your encouraging words...you all made my day :)
    @sadhana valentian n sanyukta welcome to my space..keep visiting for more yummy recipes :)

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  18. dear friends,thank you so much for all your encouraging words...you all made my day :)
    @sadhana valentian n sanyukta welcome to my space..keep visiting for more yummy recipes :)

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  19. Looks so delicious and healthy recipe.

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  20. One more new recipe.. Kalakuringa..:)

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  21. Wow for being such an innovative cook and that too with nutritious ingredients-great job! The rice looks delicious!

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  22. Looks different..Will definitely try..am too bored of sambhar, rasam and poriyals...

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