Janhi Chingudi (Ridge Gourd with Shrimp)

Ingredients

Ridge Gourd - 4

Shrimp - 15 Large (remove vein and shell)

Potato - 1 Large

Ground Onion-Ginger-Garlic Paste - 4 tbsp

Curry Powder - 4 tbsp

Coriander Powder - 1/2 tsp

Canola Oil - 3 tbsp

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1/2 tsp or as per taste

Cumin seeds - 1/8 tsp

Dry Red Chilli - 2

Method

Let the Shrimp thaw and be soft to touch.

Heat Canola oil. 

Once the oil is hot, add the Shrimp. Sprinkle Turmeric Powder and Salt and mix well. Stir every min or so till the Shrimp is cooked. Do not overcook.

Keep the Shrimp aside. In the oil remaining in the pan, add the chopped Potato. I chopped the Potato length-wise so it is similar in shape to the chopped Ridge Gourd.

Once the Potato is cooked, keep it aside with the Shrimp.

In the oil that remains, add Cumin seeds and dry Red Chilli.

Once this oil is tempered with Cumin seeds and dry Red Chilli, add a pinch of sugar and caramelize the same.

Add the Ground Onion-Ginger-Garlic Paste and mix well.

Once the paste is half-cooked, add the chopped Ridge Gourd

Note: Chop the Ridge Gourd into two or three pieces, so that it is easier to chop individually. Remove the skin and then chop into small cubes,

Cover if necessary.

Once the Ridge Gourd looks cooked, add the already cooked Shrimp and Potato pieces.

Mix well. Cover if necessary. Add a dash of water to prevent the dish from sticking to the sides of the pan.

Enjoy with Rice\Dal or Roti\Chapatti.

I was a never a fan of this vegetable, right from my childhood days. During my parents recent visit, my mom prepared this dish. I loved it but that was it. It's been a few months since and I thought of grabbing a few Ridge Gourd during my recent grocery shopping. Was I surprised how delicious this dish turned out to be!?! Think it's gonna be a staple.

The garlic-based Spinach dish in this pic is also a recent favorite of mine. I am adding a lot of new vegetables to my pantry this holiday season - can't be more proud of myself! The cooking experience when relaxed is a different experience - it is not a chore.

More about Ridge Gourd and it's health benefits (blood purifier, manages insulin levels, etc. among others) can be found here. More details about the vegetable can be found here (the image is from the same website).

Ridge gourd medically referred to as Luffa acutangula as well as called turiya or even turai or beerakai or dodka in several languages in India is yet another variety of gourd along with a functional veggie that provides a facet to the veggie delicacies. This can be referred to as Chinese Okra or even Sponge gourd.