Aakakarakaya koora Teasel Gourd Curry

Ingredients:

• Aa Kaakarakayalu (Teasel Gourd) – 200gms
• Onions – 2 (100gms)
• Red Chillies – 5 Or To Taste (Break Chilies Into Small Pieces)
• Curry Leaves – Few
• Salt - To Taste
• Turmeric Powder – 1/4tsp
• Black Gram – 2tsps
• Mustard Seeds – 1tsp
• Cumin Seeds – 1tsp
• Oil – 21/2Tbsps
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Preparations:

  1. Take the gourds into a bowl of water and wash them properly by rubbing with fingers to remove dirt. 
  2. Cut the stems and slice each gourd into thin strips. 
  3. Take a microwave safe bowl and add the sliced teasel gourd pieces.
  4. Add 20ml water to the pieces and place this bowl in microwave oven. 
  5. Cook the gourds on high power for 5 minutes and allow 3 minutes standing time before removing the bowl from the oven. 
  6. Peel the onions and cut them into thin slices. 
  7. Cut the red chillies into small pieces and keep them aside.

  Method:

  1. Heat a pan and add oil to it. When oil is hot add black gram and fry till the seeds start changing color. 
  2. Then add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. 
  3. Fry till the seeds splutter. Now add red chilli pieces and curry leaves and fry well. 
  4. Add the thinly sliced onions and fry till they are slightly brown in color. Then add the cooked teasel gourd pieces and mix well. 
  5. Add turmeric powder and salt. Mix well. Now cover the pan and cook on slow flame for one minute. 
  6. Remove the lid and cook stirring till all moisture evaporates and the curry is dry. Now transfer this curry to a serving bowl and serve hot with rice.
  
  

  Points To Remember:

  1. Teasel Gourds come in two sizes—one big variety and another small variety. Usually small variety gourds are bitter in taste where as bigger ones are not bitter. But at times even smaller ones are also good. Use tender gourds to prepare a tasty curry.
  Add red chilies according to your taste. Instead of red chili pieces add a teaspoon of red chili flakes so as to avoid picking the chili pieces while eating.
  Fry the onions on till they turn brown in color. Keep stirring while frying onions so that they will be browned evenly.  
  
  

  Variation:

  Add crushed garlic (2 cloves) to the seasoning just before adding onions and fry. This will give a nice flavor to your curry.
  Enjoy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!