Peerkangai Poriyal (Ridge gourd Stir fry)

Like I mentioned in my previous post on Peerkangai Thol Chutney, peerkangai or ridge gourd is a versatile vegetable where the peel and the flesh can be used separately to make different dishes. Since the peel is kinda tough we need to remove it before making a stir fry. You can use the peels to make a chutney, for which you can find the recipe here. The stir fry or poriyal is very simple and quick. You can make it dry to go with rice or a little soggy to go with rotis.

Some things you may want to know about the vegetable are

• They let out a lot of water, so watch out.
• Once cooked the vegetable shrinks a lot, so if your cooking for large number of people you may want to buy more.
• You can use the seeds in the middle if they are tender, if not remove them before cooking.
• Save the skin (peel) to make a chutney (Dip). Recipe here

Ingredients:

• Ridge gourd/ Peerkangai - 2 large ones, peel and chop them.
• Onion - 1, finely chopped
• Garlic - 3 or 4, chopped
• Oil - 2 tblspn
• Mustard seeds - 1tspn
• Urad dal - 1tsp
• Channa Dal - 1 tsp
• Dry red chillies - 2 or 3, broken
• Coriander powder - 1 tspn
• Curry leaves - 1 strand
• Salt - to taste
• Chilli powder - 1/2 tspn
• Coconut,shredded - 2 tblspn

Steps: 

• Add oil in a pan, when hot add the mustard seeds, when they crackle, add the urad dal,channa dal, dry red chillies and the curry leaves.
• Immediately add the chopped onion and garlic and sauté till the onion changes colour lightly.
• Turn heat to medium high and add the coriander powder and chilli powder and sauté well till the raw smell of the coriander is gone.
• Then add the chopped ridge gourd and sauté. Add salt to taste.
• Sprinkle some water to start the cooking process and cover.
• In about 5 mins the gourd would have let out a lot of water, so remove the cover and cook it for another 5 mins. 
• If you like it to be soggy to go with rotis, add shredded coconut now, stir it in well and turn off heat.
• Or raise the heat to high and let the water evaporate, stir occasionally. Then add the shredded coconut, stir it in well and turn off heat.