Onion Stuffed Ridge Gourd

Ullipaya Beerakayalu.

Here, onion is chopped up and briefly cooked before grinding into paste with ginger and garlic. Ridge gourd is chopped into small cylinders and stuffed with the ground onion mixture. Then stuffed ridge gourds are cooked in tempered oil till soft and finished with kasuri methi. Serve onion stuffed ridge gourd with steamed rice or with roti.
Makes: around 6 Onion Stuffed Ridge Gourd.

Ingredients:

• Ridge Gourd around 18 inch Long
• Onion 1 Large
• Ginger 2 inch Piece
• Garlic 3 Cloves
• Green Chiles 3 – 4
• Dried Fenugreek Leaves 2 Tbsps
• Salt to taste
• Oil 1 tsp

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 1 tsp

Method of preparation:

Wash, remove ends, lightly peel and chop ridge gourd into 3 inch long cylinders.
Taste the ridge gourd to make sure its not bitter.
Slit the chopped ridge gourd making a plus sign with its bottom intact.

Peel and finely chop the onion.
Peel and roughly chop ginger and garlic cloves.
Remove stems, wash and slice the green chiles.

Heat a tsp of oil in a pan, add chopped onion and fry till onion turns translucent and starts to brown.
Cool the onion to room temperature and grind it along with ginger, garlic, green chiles and salt.
Add a splash of water while grinding if necessary.
Remove the thick onion paste onto a bowl.

Stuff each ridge gourd with a tbsp of more of the prepared onion paste and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan, add all talimpu ingredients in order.
When mustard seeds start spluttering, slowly place the stuffed ridge gourd pieces into the pan.
Fry briefly for a minute or two and pour any remaining onion paste into the pan.
Cook covered on low flame turning occasionally until ridge gourd becomes soft.
Add a splash or two of water if necessary while cooking.
Finally uncover and stir in dried fenugreek leaves / kasuri methi.
Stir fry for a minute or two and then remove ridge gourd from heat.
Serve stuffed ridge gourd with steamed rice and a dollop of ghee.
Notes: Make sure to occasionally scrape the bottom of the pan when the pan is on high heat to avoid burning of the onion stuffing.

Suggestions: If ridge gourd is not cooked properly, cook it covered over medium – low flame till soft but not mushy.
Variations: Spices Stuffed Ridge Gourd, Besan Stuffed Ridge Gourd are some good variations of stuffed ridge gourd.
Other Names: Onion Stuffed Ridge Gourd.

via Talimpu