Sorakaya Paalu Koora (Bottle gourd/ Doodhi in a spicy milk sauce)

This is one of the most common andhra style dish prepared with bottle gourd. Milk enhances the already mild flavour of Bottle gourd in this recipe. Bottle gourd is believed to have the natural tendency to cool the body.

Ingredients:

Bottle gourd – 1 medium

Onion – 1 large

Green chillies -4

Mustard seeds – ¼ tsp

Cumin seeds – ½ tsp

Tomato – 1 medium

Curry leaves – 2 strands

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

Chilli powder – 1 tsp

Dhania powder – ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Milk – ¾  cup

Oil – 2 tsp

Preparation:

Wash, peel and cut the gourd into bite size pieces. Finely chop the onions and keep aside.

Heat oil in a skillet, add the mustard and cumin seeds, fry till they cracke and add the green chillies, curry leaves and onions and fry till the onion turns transparent.

Add the turmeric powder, stir and add the gourd pieces, mix and cook closed on a medium heat for about 5 minutes.

Add the diced tomato, dhania, chilli powders and salt and mix well.

Close the lid and cook till the gourd pieces are cooked completely. Add very little if required.

Now add the milk and stir and cook closed for another 5 min.

Serve hot with roti or rice.