Sorakaya Sorva(Spiced Bottle Gourd Gravy)

Serves: 4 People

Ingredients:

Sorakaya (Bottle Gourd) - 1 (medium size)

Oil - 4 tbsp

Curry Leaves - 2

Ginger - small piece

Garlic - 3 pieces

Cumin and Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp each

Tomatoes - 2 Big size(ground to paste)

Onion  - 1/1.5 big ( ground to paste)

Turmeric Powder - pinch

Asfoetida (Inguva)- pinch

Shredded Coconut/Dry coconut powder  - 4 tbsp

Dry Chilli - 2/3 pieces

Coriander Leaves - as required

Salt - as required

Chilli powser - as required

Directions:

1.  Peel the bottle gourd and cut it into ice cube size pieces and remove off the seeds in it.

2. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin, mustard , turmeric powder, Asfoetida(Inguva) and fry them. Put the stove in medium level.

3. Add curry leaves, mashed garlic, mashed ginger, red chilli and fry them for 2 minutes until the raw ginger and raw garlic smell is gone.

4. Now Add the onion paste and the stir well and fry until the onion paste is cooked well  for 2-3 minutes.

5.  Add salt, Chilli powder to this and then add  bottle gourd(sorakaya) pieces and fry them for 5 minutes and then close the lid( put flame on medium)

6. Now, remove the lid and when you see the bottlegourd pieces oozes moisture( bottle gourd contains water natually), thats when bottlegourd is cooked well.

   Add Shredded coconut/ Dry coconut powder and the tomato paste and mix well.

7. When the tomatoes are cooked well, add chopped coriander.

8. Turn the stove off and the receipe is ready.

Note : Best goes with Roti, Naan, Rice