Snake Gourd

Snake gourd is a very mild vegetable without much flavor in it. Here is the wiki link to this vegetable,for those who have not heard of it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichosanthes_cucumerina

I like to to prepare snake gourd with coocnut so that the bland taste of the vegetable gets compensated. There are some other ways to cook this vegetable too like kootu(with lentils) http://myrecipesnmore.blogspot.com/2010/05/chayote.html or add it in avial. Recipe for Avial http://myrecipesnmore.blogspot.com/2010/04/avial.html .

Snake Gourd - cut to small cubic pieces - I used about 2 snake gourds

Grated coconut(fresh or frozen) - for garnish

Mustard seeds - 1/2 spoon

Curry leaves - a few

Cooking oil - 1-2 spoons

Chilli powder - to taste

Salt - to taste

In a skillet, heat oil and add mustard seeds and curry leaves once hot. Next, add the chopped snake gourd pieces and give it a good stir. Let it cook on a medium flame uncovered, stir ocassionally. The snake gourd will start to wilt. Allow it to cook completely(wilt completely). This will take about 10 minutes on medium flame. Once, it has cooked add salt and chilli powder. Mix well and switch off the stove. Add the coconut and serve. I had this with rice and dal. Goes well with rotis too.