Ridge Gourd Patties

Beerakaya Vadiyalu.

Ridge gourd is chopped and salted. Later the salted ridge gourd is squeezed and mixed with rice flour and other spices and made into small patties. The patties are then either shallow fried on deep fried until golden brown in color. These are generally served with rice.
Makes: around 6 Ridge Gourd Patties.

Ingredients:

• Ridge Gourd 1 large
• Rice Flour 3 tbsps
• Onion 1 Small
• Green Chiles 1 – 2
• Red Chile Powder 1/4 tsp
• Cilantro few sprigs
• Salt to taste
• Oil 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

Remove stems, wash and finely chop the green chiles.
Wash and finely chop cilantro leaves.
Peel and finely chop the onion.
Remove ends, remove skin and wash the ridge gourd.
Finely chop the ridge gourd (around 2 Cups).

Sprinkle a tsp of salt and leave chopped ridge gourd aside for 15 – 20 minutes.
Then squeeze the chopped ridge gourd between hands to remove water.

In a mixing bowl, add squeezed ridge gourd, rice flour, chopped onion, green chiles, red chile powder, cilantro and salt (if necessary).
Stir and slightly mash the mixture to form a very soft dough. Add little bit of water if necessary.
Take small lemon sized portion out of the mixture and flatten it on the palm to form a small disc.

Repeat the same with remaining mixture and keep all the flattened rigde gourd discs aside.

Heat a flat pan on low – medium heat.
Carefully arrange the ridge gourd discs on hot pan one by one.
Drizzle oil on each patty and let them fry on both sides until light golden brown in color.
Remove turai patties onto absorbent paper.
Serve ridge gourd patties with hot steamed rice or steamed rice mixed with pickle.
Notes: Make sure not to add too much rice flour.

Suggestions: If the patties are not cooked properly, put them back on heat and cook on low flame until inside cooks and outside turns crisp.
Variations: You can also add other kinda of flours to bind the ridge gourd mixture. The ridge gourd patties can also be deep fried.
Other Names: Ridge Gourd Patties, Beerakaya Vadiyalu.