Zaiqa

Turai (in Urdu) also called as Ridged Gourd (in English); other names: Ridged Loofah, Silk Gourd, Chinese Okra; is my family’s all time favorite vegetable. We all love this humble vegetable a lot. It is mostly an Asian vegetable, easily found in most of the Chinese and Indian grocery stores in the North America. This curry/Salan, about which I am going to write today, is a classic Turai preperation in my house which we usually love to have along with some warm rotis for lunch or dinner. For a vegetarian version, you can simply omit the meat and cook the Turai for a comforting vegetarian meal.

Turai are similar to cucumbers and squash, dark green or green in colour with hard and sharp ridges running from its head to its bottom, and a dull rough skin. They are available in various sizes. I describe the taste of Turai slightly sweetish and a little bland, hence it easily absorbs the flavors of the other ingredients it is cooked along. When you buy them, look for younger ridged gourds without and dark spots, as if you end up buying the mature ones, they are usually fibrous, bitter and not edible. Inside its flesh is full of water, so you need not add more water while you cook Turai.

Turai or Ridge Gourd                     Peeled and Chopped Turai

To prepare it, you need to peel the gourd with a vegetable peeler, wash and pat dry it with paper towels, slice them lengthways into two, and chop them up into semi-circular discs. The gourd being quite bland in taste, absorb the sweetish flavor of the onions, and the tangy taste of tomatoes. You will love this simple and tasty dish.

Turai Gosht – Ridged Gourd in Lamb meat and Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

Ridged Gourd/Turai – 4 or 5, young and fresh, peeled, rinced and chopped
Canola Oil – 2 tsp
Yellow Onion – 2, large, finely sliced
Lamb meat – 300 gms, cut into bite size pieces
Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
Fresh Ripe Red Tomato – 2, large, chopped finely
Red Chilli powder –  2 tsp
Salt – to taste

Turai Gosht – Ridged Gourd in Lamb meat and Tomato Sauce

Method:

1. In a pressure cooker at medium heat, pour oil and as soon as it gets warm, add the onion, meat, turmeric and salt. Pour in 1 cup water and pressure cook it till the meat is tender.
2. Later, open the lid of the cooker and add the chopped ridged gourd/turai, chopped tomatoes and red chilli powder. Pressure cook again about 5-8 minutes.
3. Open the lid of the pressure cooker and check to see if the Turai is tender. Add a few splashes of water if needed. Serve warm.

Suggested Accomapniments: Serve along with some warm Rotis, or along with Basmati Chawal/Khushka or Plain Rice and Khatti Dal for a simple and delicious meal.

Luv,
Mona