Ridge Gourd Kadhi

Ridge Gourd Kadhi.
For ridge gourd / turai kadhi, oil is tempered with few whole spices. Ridge gourd is peeled and chopped into small pieces and fried in oil till they cook. Mixture of besan / gram flour and yogurt is prepared and cooked along with ridge gourd. Serve ridge gourd kadhi with steamed rice or with roti.
Makes: Ridge Gourd Kadhi.
Ingredients:
Ridge Gourd 1 Medium
Besan / Gram Flour 3 – 5 Tbsps
Plain Yogurt 1 Cup
Green Chiles 1 – 2
Turmeric Powder a big pinch
Salt to taste
Oil 1 Tbsp
Talimpu:
Mustard Seeds 1/4 tsp
Cumin Seeds 1/4 tsp
Urad Dal 1/4 tsp
Broken Dried Red Chiles 3 – 4
Asafoetida a Big Pinch
Curry Leaves 5
Oil 2 tsps
Method of preparation:
Peel off the thick skin, wash, remove ends and chop the ridge gourd into small pieces.
Remove stems, wash and slice the green chiles.
Whisk yogurt with besan and salt into smooth paste adding around half a cup of water.
Heat oil in a pan, add all other talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, add green chiles, chopped ridge gourd and salt.
Cook covered on low flame till ridge gourd is soft.
Add a splash of water if required.
Take a big tablespoon of ridge gourd mixture and mix with the whisked yogurt mixture to lower the temperature of the yogurt.
Then stir in the yogurt mixture in to the pan with cooked ridge gourd.
Cook on low flame till yogurt besan mixture thickens or until raw smell of the mixture is gone.
Adjust any seasonings if required and remove from heat.
Garnish with cilantro if desired and serve ridge gourd kadhi with plain steamed rice or with roti.
Notes: Make sure ridge gourd is cooked well before adding the yogurt mixture into the pan.
Suggestions: Vary the consistency of the dish with besan / gram flour. If the yogurt gravy feels raw, cook the mixture on low flame for couple more minutes or until done. Make sure not to add cold yogurt mixture into hot pan.
Variations: Finely chopped onion can also be added along with ridge gourd.
Other Names: Ridge Gourd Kadhi.