Ridge gourd-cashewnut curry/Birakaya-jeedipappu curry/Heeraikai-godambi curry

Ridge gourd and cashew nut make a great combination both in taste wise and healthy wise. Here I am using cashew nut paste,which gives a delicious taste to ridge gourd.This curry is a great combination for roti,rice, chapathi. Both cashew nut and ridge gourd are healthy for our body.

Nutritional Benefits of Ridge Gourd : Ridge gourd contains lots of water and is low in saturated fats,which makes it beneficial during weight loss. It acts as an excellent natural body cleanser,eliminating harmful pollutants from the body.It also helps in decreasing the alcohol intoxication by boosting the liver functioning. As it is rich in dietary fiber,it acts as best remedy for constipation and is even used to cure piles. It also helps in Diabetes,by reducing the sugar level both in blood and urine.It also helps in fortifying the immune system.

Nutritional Benefits of cashew nuts :Cashew nuts have many health benefits.They contain less fat compared to other nuts.They helps in lowering blood pressure.It helps in getting black hair as it contain copper in it.They contain high amount of soluble dietary fiber.They also contain phytochemicals which helps in prevention of cancer.They are also rich in Vitamin B1(thiamin), B2 (riboflavin),B5(pantothenic acid),B6 pyridoxine, which are required for metabolism of proteins,fats and carbohydrates.

Preparation time : 30 mins

Cooking time : 30 mins

Yield : 2

Ingredients :

Ridge gourd/birakaya/heeraikai : 1/4 kg

Cashew nuts/jeedipappu/godambi: 1/2 cup

Almonds/badam/badami : 1/4  cup (optional)

Tomatoes : 2

Onions : 2

Green chilies : 6-7 no

Mustard seeds/avallu/sasive : 1 tsp

Cumin seeds/jeera/jeerige : 1 tsp

Ginger-garlic paste : 1 tbsp

Curry leaves : few

Cardamom/elachi : 2

Clove/lavang : 2

salt : to taste

Red chilies : 3

Asafoetida/inguva/ingu : a pinch

Turmeric powder : a pinch

oil : 1 tbsp+1 tsp

Method of Preparation :

1. Heat 1 tsp of oil in a kadai,fry cashew nuts,almonds,onions and green chilies separately,cool them and grind them into paste together,keep aside. Grind  raw tomatoes also  into paste separately. Chop ridge gourd into small pieces.


2. Heat a tsp of oil in a kadai, crackle mustard seeds,then add cumin seeds, asafoetida,red chili pieces,curry leaves and saute for 1 minute.


3. Add turmeric powder, ginger-garlic paste,saute till the raw smell goes-off.Then add  ridge gourd pieces,cardamom,cloves,salt and cook for 5 mins by closing it with a lid.


4. Then remove the lid,add tomato paste and cook for 5-7 more mins.


5. Finally add the cashew paste,which we prepared, little water and cook for 9-10 mins by closing with a lid. Dish out and serve along with roti/rice/chapathi.

[caption id="attachment_471" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ridge gourd-cashewnut curry/birakaya-jeedipappu curry/Heeraikai-godambi curry[/caption]

Note : I have added almonds for extra taste,you can avoid it.