Snake Gourd Curry | Chichinda Sabji
Snake gourd curry or chichinda sabji - a simple dry curry recipe prepared with snake gourd that pairs well with roti and rice!
Servings: 4
Calories: 79kcal
Ingredients
Measurement Details: 1 cup =240ml; 1 tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp = 5ml;
- 1 tbsp ghee use oil for the vegan version
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- a pinch of asafoetida skip for a gluten-free version
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp red chili powder or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 3 cups snake gourd chopped approx 360 grams
- ¾ tsp salt or to taste
- ⅓ to ½ cup water divided
- 1 tbsp chickpea flour/besan option
Instructions
- Heat a pan or kadai and add the ghee. When the ghee melts and is hot, add the cumin seeds and asafoetida. When the cumin seeds sizzle, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the coriander powder, red chili powder, and turmeric powder. Fry for 20 to 30 seconds. Keep stirring, and do not leave the spices unattended.
- Now add ¼ cup of water and mix the spices.
- Next, add the chopped snake gourd.
- Mix well. Ensure the spices are coated evenly.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp of water and cover, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove the lid, add two more tbsp of water and salt, and cover and cook until the vegetable is soft and tender. Depending on how tender the vegetable is, the cooking time might vary. It took me 12 mts. For every two minutes, remove the lid and mix the vegetable. If it's too dry, sprinkle 1 to 2 tbsp of water.
- Add the besan/chickpea flour and mix well when the snake gourd is tender and nicely cooked.
- Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, and then turn off the heat. The curry is ready. Serve warm with rice or roti.
Notes
- Ghee adds a nice flavor, and if you are fine with using dairy-based products, I highly recommend ghee. But if you have dietary restrictions, use the oil of your choice.
- Make sure to use tender and not bitter snake gourd for this curry.
- While roasting the spices, reduce the heat to medium-low to low as we don't want to over-roast and burn them. Adding a splash of water also helps.
- As always, adjust the spices and salt to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 79kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 111mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg