Stiry Fry of Lauki (Bottle Gourd) with Curd

Stir Fry Bottle Gourd with Yogurt

1 small sized bottle gourd
1 small onion - sliced
2 -3 small chilly - chopped small
1tsp ginger garlic paste
1 sprig of curry leaves-optional
1/2 tsp of urad dhall
1/2 tsp of fenugreek
1/2 tsp turmeric
1tsp fennel powder
1/2 tsp of cumin powder
salt to taste
1/2 cup curd - beat well
chopped coriander leaves-optional

Method
Remove skin and chop to small bite size
Heat pan with some oil
Once hot, put in urad dhall and fenugreek, wait till pops
Next add in onion and fry till soft
Add in ginger garlic paste, curry leaves and chilly, fry for 1-2 mins
Next add in bottle gourd, mix well and let it cook for about 4-6mins on medium fire
Add in water if it tends to be too dried otherwise it is just nice as the bottle gourd oozes out some water
Add in turmeric, fennel and cumin powder as well as salt - stir well
Cook for a few more minutes till the bottle gourd is soft
Off the flame and add in curd and coriander leaves and mix well

Best with rice or chapatis...

Banaras and Banaras Style Stir Fry Ladies Finger with Mustard Powder

I was blog surfing and found this blog www.banaraskakhana.com - It brought back memories of my trip to Banaras.

Banaras is an old name for Varanasi the holy city for Hindus.  It is located in Uttar Pradesh where my in -laws have roots from...Click here for more about Varanasi http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-485488-varanasi_vacations-i?showmore=1

We have been there twice in the last 3 years.  There is just this kind of aura that always makes me to feel I should go there again and again.. Hopefully will make more visits in the future...Some of the pictures and then a Banaras style stir fry ladies finger  http://www.banaraskakhana.com/2013/06/sarson-wali-sookhi-bhindi-baby-okra.html.



Temples and Ghats along River Ganges

Fresh vegetables along the walk path

Mother in Law looking at the fresh vegetables

Just love to look at the radish and its leaves, so refreshing, lean and slim...



This recipe calls for baby ladies fingers.  However I had only medium sized ladies fingers.  I guess it does not really matter.  Nevertheless will try with baby ladies fingers in the future.   I made this subzi together with whole green mung dhall, click here for recipe,  lauki with curd  and raita with pappad and a big dollop of curd.... Wow what a lunch.

 

 

 

Lets look at the recipe Sarson Wali Sookhi Bhindi - Stir Fry Ladies Fingers with Mustard Powder

 

Ingredients



500gm baby ladies fingers- I used only about 200gm normal size
tomatoes 150 gm or 2 large - I used 1 large tomato
2tsp of finely chopped green chilies or to taste
2tsp of garlic or to taste - mine was ginger garlic paste
1.5 tbsp or little more yellow mustard powder  ( I grinded whole mustard into powder)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder 
salt to taste
1 tsp of amchoor powder - this I add
 2 tbsp mustard oil 

Method

Chop the head and tail of ladies fingers. Cut into about an inch long pieces.

Chop tomato in small pieces.

In a deep pan heat mustard oil.  Then add the chopped green chillies and garlic and immediately tip in the ladies fingers.  Add salt and turmeric powder and stir fry for about 3-4 minutes on medium heat.

Add the sliced tomato as soon as the okra get blistered.  Don't overcook or mushy with the ladies fingers.  Stir fry till the tomato are soft.  Add the mustard powder and stir fry for another 3-4minutes more.  Stir fry on low fire so that the flavours mix well together.

You can add water if you like but this dish is already moist and soft.  I would definitely make this again for chapatti side dish.  The next time however I would like to make it spicy and probably blending the garlic and chillies.

Now lets savour...

My lunch today, bottom left to righ - pappad, curd, bhindi, raita, and lauki with curd.

Stiry Fry Ladies Fingers with Mustard Powder