Ash Gourd Poriyal

Ingredients

• 250 g poosanikkai (gourd), peeled, cut into small strips (பூசணிக்காய்)
• 4 tbsp grated coconut (தேங்காய்த் துருவல்)
• 3 large onions, chopped (பெரிய வெங்காயம்)
• 5 green chillies, chopped (பச்சை மிளகாய்)
• 4 dried red chillies (மிளகாய் வற்றல்)
• 1 tbsp grated ginger (இஞ்சி துருவல்)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil (தேங்காய் எண்ணெய்)
• 1 tbsp, plus as needed mustard seeds, curry leaves, salt (கடுகு, கறிவேப்பிலை, உப்பு)

Method

1. Peel, wash and cut the gourd into small strips.
2. Temper mustard, curry leaves, green chillies, ginger and dried chillies in oil, then saute the onion.
3. Add the gourd, sprinkle a little water and cook on medium heat until tender.
4. Season with salt and toss with the grated coconut.

Adapted from பேலியோ ஆரோக்கிய சமையல் (Paleo Arokkiya Samaiyal) by Rtn Kannan Azhagirisamy, page 43. Method rewritten in our own words; ingredient quantities follow the book, with gram weights estimated for the nutrition figures. The book thanks the Arokkiya Unavugal (Healthy Foods) Facebook group and tamilpaleorecipes.com.