Let us all admit that the very idea of the gourd vegetable is unpleasant. In fact, during childhood most of us would either secretly throw it in the dustbin or try to avoid eating it altogether. But no matter what, whether you like it or not, lauki (or bottle gourd) has always been an integral part of the Indian diet. Why are you surprised? This is because of the properties of this vegetable. It is hydrating, rich in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants and helps boost metabolism, burn fat and lower cholesterol levels. Hence, we are constantly on the lookout for unique recipes to make gourd interesting for everyone. And guess what, we recently found a dish that will make you fall in love with this vegetable instantly. It is called Soorakaya Pachadi.
Soorakaya Pachadi, The Best Bottle Gourd Chutney To Try:
In simple terms, sorakaya is gourd and pachadi literally means ‘grinded’. Popular in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is a fresh, hand-grinded chutney that is usually eaten with rice. Pachadi is also consumed in other South Indian states, but if you look deeper, you will find each region’s recipe has its own specialty. For instance, in Kerala, pachadi is consumed raw and fresh, while in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, people eat the vegetables al dente before grinding them.
Apart from this, Sorakaya Pachadi (South Indian bottle gourd chutney) is also very healthy. This recipe retains the nutrients of the vegetable while adding some additional benefits from the spices and other ingredients.
Also read: 5 South Indian Chutney Recipes You Must Try
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Easiest Soorakaya Pachadi Recipe To Make At Home:
As mentioned earlier, the pachadi recipe is unique to every region and every household. While searching for a simple and easy-to-make recipe, we came across a video on social media that looked delicious and perfect to eat with rice, roti and paratha. The video of this recipe has been shared by food vlogger Vanatamrutham on Instagram. Let’s take a look.
- Heat oil in a pan.
- Roast cumin seeds, green chillies and peanuts and keep aside.
- Heat some more oil and add a few garlic cloves, chopped bottle gourd, tomatoes and turmeric powder and cook on low-medium flame.
- Cook on low-medium flame till 80-90 percent for eight to ten minutes.
- Add tamarind and turn off the flame.
- Put everything in a blender and grind it coarsely. You can also grind the chutney with salt by hand.
- Next, prepare the tempering with the seed mixture, curry leaves, asafoetida and red chillies and add the chutney.
- Mix everything well, garnish with coriander leaves and your pachadi is ready.
Watch a detailed video of Soorakaya Pachadi recipe here:
Also read: How to make South Indian style Pachadi – Learn how to make 5 types of Pachadi
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