shiraLe-batata bhajee

A veggie of Ridge gourd with potato
I think ShiraLe/ridge gourd is the most  disliked vegetable in many homes. But after looking at the health benefits it is a good decision to include this vegetable once a while in your meal.

Ridge gourd is loaded with vitamins such as vitamin C,riboflavin,zinc,thiamine, iron and magnesium.
It is also low in fat and calories and high  in fiber as well
Being low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in dietary fiber, it becomes the ideal choice for anyone who wishes to lose some weight quickly. It also has a very high water content, making it a very low calorie vegetable

So why not try it?

Ingredients
2 medium size ridge gourds/shiraLe
1/4 cup soaked chana DaL/ bengal  gram
1 potato diced(optional)

1/2 tsp kaLa masala
salt and jaggery to taste

Tempering
1 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp asafoetida
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
3/4 tsp chili powder
Method

• Soak chana DaL/bengal gram in lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes.Wash the ridge gourd/shiralee .
• Cut off both ends and scrape  the ridges of the vegetable with the help of knife or scraper.
• You can prepare चटणी/ chatni out of the ridges of the gourd.
• Cut the gourd in medium size pieces. Dice the potato.
• Heat the kadhai. Add the tempering ingredients one by one. Add dal,potato pieces first. Add little water in it. Cover with water in the lid. Let it cook on medium flame.
  Add ridge gourd pieces & cover again with the lid. Let it cook for 10 minutes.
• Once cooked add kala  masala and mix well.
• Add jaggery and salt to taste.
• Serve with chapati.
  

Note
Taste the cut ends of the vegetable for bitterness. Discard if it is bitter.