Ridge Gourd Peel Chutney / Beerakaya thokku pacchadi

Ridge gourd is very popular edible vegetable that occupies the prominent place in day to day cooking in Indian kitchens for its well known health and nutritional benefits.It contains a very high amount of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Often many people tend to throw away the outer peels of the ridge gourd while making this vegetable. Instead of throwing it out you can turn it into a tasty chutney which is very easy to prepare. Traditionally there are many variations of this chutney but I am blogging one of my favorite recipe with the peel.

Ridge Gourd peel......

Ingredients:

• Peel of the 2-3 medium sized Ridge Gourd             

• 2-3 Green Chillies

• 1 tsp Chana dal

• 1 tsp Urad dal

• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds

• 2 tbsp ground nuts

• Tamarind extract from a lemon sized tamarind ball

• 1/4 tsp turmeric

• 2 garlic pods (optional)

For the seasoning:

• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds

• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds

• 1 red chilli 

• Curry leaves

• a pinch of asafoetida (hing)

Procedure:

1. Add a teaspoon of oil to a cooking vessel and add in Chana dal, Urad dal, cumin seeds,mustard seeds, groundnuts,green chillies and the garlic pods. Once the dals turn brown, switch it off and keep aside to cool.

• In the same vessel, add the  washed beerakaya peels and turmeric. Sprinkle little water and saute on medium flame for 2-3 mins and switch off and keep aside to cool.

• Firstly grind all the roasted ingredients into a coarse paste.

• Later, add in the soft and boiled peel, salt along with the  tamarind extract and grind them into a slightly coarse paste. Keep in  mind not to blend them too much. A course textured chutney tastes better.

•     Heat a ½ tsp. of oil, add all ingredients for tempering/seasoning one after other and stir-fry for a minute. Pour the seasoning over the ground paste and serve it with hot rice or breads.

                                                                      bon appetit   !!!!!

  Try this healthy and tasty Chutney with steaming hot rice drizzled with ghee (clarified butter) !!! It is absolutely delicious and comforting meal.