Turai kheema (Ridge gourd & minced meat curry)

             Turai which is known as Ridge gourd in English when paired with minced meat or kheema gives a beautiful delicious side dish that tastes best with chapathis or soft phulkas. An ideal dish for breakfast.

           Ridge gourd is an excellent blood purifier and beneficial for diabetes and a cure for jaundice. Being low in calories it aids in weight loss and has a good content of Vitamin C and B. It is also a good source of zinc, iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus.

          There are few points to remember while preparing this curry. First, do a taste check - the turai or ridge gourd can be bitter so it is important that you taste all the raw gourds before you cook lest the entire curry will turn bitter even if one gourd was bitter. Next the gourds reduces significantly in volume while cooking and finally, while peeling the gourd leave a little bit of green here and there like in the picture added below to keep the gourd firm or it will turn too soft and mushy. Here comes the recipe in detail :-

Ingredients:

1. Ridge gourd - 1 kg
2. Minced meat - 250 gms
3. Onion - 1 no
4. Red chilli powder - 2 tsp
5. Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
6. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
7. Methi (small variety) - 2 bunches
8. Coriander leaves - few
9. Green chillies - 2 to 3 nos
10. Salt - to taste
11. Oil - 2 tbsp

Method:

• Peel the ridge gourd. Do a taste check (refer paragraph above). Wash and chop finely like in the picture below.

• Wash and clean the minced meat. Drain the water completely.
• Heat oil in a deep bottomed vessel.
• Add finely chopped onion. Saute over a minute.
• Add salt, ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder and turmeric powder. Mix well.
• Add the minced meat. Give a quick stir. 
• Now add the ridge gourd. Mix very well. Cover and cook on low flame while stirring occasionally. 
• Add the chopped methi leaves along with chopper coriander leaves. Slit and the green chillies as well. Continue to cover and cook on low flame for another 5 to 7 minutes or till the water dries up.
• Serve hot.

                                                       


         You may also like to try Palak kheema, Kheema baingan masala, Aloo kheema, Beans & minced meat curry and Kababchini ka kheema from My Mom's Kitchen.

Do come back to tell me your experience.

     I will meet you with my next post till then....

Happy Cooking!!!