Most Indian grocers stock doodhi, aka bottle gourd. It's a delicately flavored, delicious and nutritious gourd and lends itself to a variety of preparations. A randayi or bhaji is a savory side dish and this particular one made a frequent appearance at our dinner table as we were growing up. But Doodhi can also be fashioned into an amazing dessert, and my beloved Amma was famous for her quintessential doodhi halwa. This sweet took an eternity to make as grated doodhi, ghee, sugar and maava , which is a mass of evaporated milk solids, were stirred over a low flame until the doodhi had almost candied into the creamy maava. It was so, so good!
It was similar to my carrot halwa that you might remember my darling A and A.
This doodhi bhaji serves up the palest green cubes of gourd flecked with hints of tomatoes and onions and dotted with burst mustard seeds. You will enjoy the juicy, crushy texture of the savory gourd. :)
INGREDIENTS
1 doodhi, skin sliced off and then diced into 1" cubes, about 3 cups
2 Tbsp goodly oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 dried red peppers, these are not spicy hot, rather used for flavor
1 sprig curry leaves
1/2 tsp chopped ginger
1/4 tsp asaphoetida
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp hot cayenne powder
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped tomato
1 1/2 tsp salt
a spray of green cilantro
DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a goodly pan over medium heat.
Toss in mustard seeds and dried red peppers,
As soon as mustard seeds begin to pop, turn down the heat and add curry leaves, ginger, asafoetida, turmeric and cayenne powder.
Stir for a few seconds and stir in onions and tomatoes and salt. Cover and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat till these veggies are mushy and then,
Add the doodhi cubes, stir and cover and cook. Stir occasionally so all sides of the doodhi cubes cook evenly, they will release liquid as they cook.
The bhaji is done when the doodhi cubes are like palest green jade, tender but not over cooked, and the point of a knife slides in easily.
Taste for salt and heat and sprinkle with greener cilantro ! Yes :) Enjoy!
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