It is very good and healthy to include Ridge gourd in our daily diet plan . Many dishes can be cooked very quicky on account of its high water content. Froma variety of lentils stew with ridgegourd, chutneys, dosas, curries, dry poriyals, chutneys and thogayals, ridgegourd / peerkangai is consumed in a big way in many southern states .

It is very common for many Tamil households to prepare a simple thogayal to mix with rice and ghee or sesame oil , enjoy with a poapad, skip the rasam, sambar poriayal routinue . This tastes particularly appetising when you feel under the weather .

The thogayal also makes an excellent lunch box dish

Ridge gourd contains good amount of cellulose and high in water content that helps to relieve from constipation.

•             It contains insulin like peptides and alkaloids that helps to reduce the sugar levels in the blood and urine.

•             It is high in beta-carotene which is good for enhancing eye sight.

•             Ridge gourd acts effective in purifying blood. It boosts up and nourishes the liver health and protects the liver from alcohol intoxication.

•             Ridge gourd juice is used to heal jaundice and to strengthen your immune system against any infection.

•             It is good for skin care, as the blood purifying qualities in it ensures you to stay clear from pimples and acne.

•             Ridge gourd helps to manage acidity as well as ulcers. It is well known as a cooling agent and aids in handling burning sensation during urination.

Here I am sharing recipe for ridgegourd thogayal, there is yet another recipe for making thogaiyal with only the peels of ridge gourd, i will post it in a while along with ridge gourd lentil kootu / stew

Ingredients

2 cups or required quantity of chopped ridgegourd after washing and peeling off the thorny skin .

1 tsp split udad dal

1 tsp chana dal

some curry leaves

1 small pinch of tamrind

salt as needed

3 red chilies

big pinch of asafoetida

3-4 tbsp grated coconut

Method

• Wash and peel the ridgegourd well .

• Do not remove the entire peel but scrape off the rough thorny exterior .

• chop into smaller pieces .

• Take a pan, add 1 tsp oil , add the lentils, red chilies, tamrind piece and sautee till the lentils are fragrant and change colour lightly .

• transfer to a plate , in the same pan add 1 tsp oil , add the chopped ridgegourd pieces, sautee till tender, add some handful of curry leaves , coconut sautee for aminute , and remove .

• when the dry ingredients are cooled, powder finely in mixie jar, add the ridgegourd pieces with curry leaves, salt, coconut and tamrind .

• grind to a paste , though not too smooth .

• serve with hot rice, sesame oil and papad.

Watch this youtube video of the recipe. Kindly consider Subscribing to my Channel for regular uploads of new content .

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