Beerakaya Kura | Ridge Gourd Curry

Beerakaya Kura is a simple and delicious Andhra dish made with mild spices.  It tastes really good when taken with rice or rotis.

Ingredients:

• Beerakaya - 1/2 kg
• Coconut - 1 cup - fresh grated
• Red chilli - 1
• Garlic - 2 cloves
• Dhaniya/Coriander powder - 1 tsp
• Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
• Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - a few
• Salt - As required
• Oil

How To Prepare Beerakaya Kura:

• Wash and scrape the skin from the beerakaya/ridge gourd and chop into small cubes.
• Grind coarsely the following adding a little water -- grated coconut, garlic, turmeric, dhaniya powder and red chilli powder.
• Heat oil in the kadai and add mustard seeds.  Once they start crackling, add the red chilli and curry leaves.  Then add the beerakaya pieces and fry them till they are half cooked.
• Add the coarsely ground paste and salt and mix well.  Do not add water.
• Fry in low flame till the gourd pieces becomes soft and remove from fire.
• Serve with hot rice.  Tastes good with rotis too.