A mild yellow lightly spiced curry excellent for cooking vegetables like red pumpkin, bottle gourd, kohlrabi or turnip, radish, green bean, cabbage, breadfruit and sicilian zucchini. The coconut is ground with the spices and the spicy milk is extracted and strained for a clear flavourful gravy. Delicious, comforting and soothing vegetable dish.
This vegetable curry is commonly prepared in Goan homes on special days like family weddings with pumpkin; either red or white. Prawns fresh or dried are also added with pumpkin to flavour the gravy. In Goa, this dish is known as "Verdhur".
Bottle gourd has no cholesterol and is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It aids in digestion and relieves constipation problems. With its high water content, it keeps you hydrated and has a cooling effect on the body. Helps treat urinary tract infections. Low in calories and ideal for those watching their weight.
This vegetable curry is commonly prepared in Goan homes on special days like family weddings with pumpkin; either red or white. Prawns fresh or dried are also added with pumpkin to flavour the gravy. In Goa, this dish is known as "Verdhur".
Bottle gourd has no cholesterol and is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It aids in digestion and relieves constipation problems. With its high water content, it keeps you hydrated and has a cooling effect on the body. Helps treat urinary tract infections. Low in calories and ideal for those watching their weight.
Caldinho De Abóbora Branca (Mild Curry of White Pumpkin)
(Serves 8)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 kg bottle gourd (dudhi or lauki)
1 large onion (chopped or sliced)
2 green chillies (slit)
2 tablespoons oil
a dash of sugar (optional)
3 cups warm water
salt
Grind to a paste
2 cups grated coconut
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
8 peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick (1.5”)
6 cloves
4 large cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons white rice
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
Method:
Peel the bottle gourd, discard the seeds and cut into big pieces (1 1/2” x 2”). Wash in a colander and keep aside.
Add warm water to the ground paste, run in a blender and strain to extract the coconut spicy milk.
Heat oil in a pan and fry the onion till translucent. Add the vegetables, green chillies and stir in the coconut milk along with salt. Simmer on medium heat till the vegetable is cooked. (I add a dash of sugar to taste which is optional.)
Serve vegetable caldine with rice and fried fish.
Note:
(Serves 8)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 kg bottle gourd (dudhi or lauki)
1 large onion (chopped or sliced)
2 green chillies (slit)
2 tablespoons oil
a dash of sugar (optional)
3 cups warm water
salt
Grind to a paste
2 cups grated coconut
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
8 peppercorns
1 cinnamon stick (1.5”)
6 cloves
4 large cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons white rice
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
Method:
Peel the bottle gourd, discard the seeds and cut into big pieces (1 1/2” x 2”). Wash in a colander and keep aside.
Add warm water to the ground paste, run in a blender and strain to extract the coconut spicy milk.
Heat oil in a pan and fry the onion till translucent. Add the vegetables, green chillies and stir in the coconut milk along with salt. Simmer on medium heat till the vegetable is cooked. (I add a dash of sugar to taste which is optional.)
Serve vegetable caldine with rice and fried fish.
Note:
- White rice prevents the coconut milk from curdling.
- Some add lime juice or vinegar to taste.
- When cooking with green beans, add 1/4 cup masoor dal or red lentils.
- I prepared the caldine with a sicilian zucchini (picture above) from our garden. It is similar in taste to a bottle gourd (calabash, dudhi or lauki).
Breadfruit Caldine (Nirponos Verdhur)
Note:
- Half a breadfruit about 1/2 kg was used.
- The rest of the ingredients indicated above remain the same for 1/2 kg of breadfruit.
- Fresh cleaned prawns around 300 grams can be stirred in at the end and cooked for a couple of minutes.
- Cauliflower Caldine with Prawns (below).
Ridge Gourd Caldine
Ridge gourd some times has a slight bitter taste, so included a tomato in the gravy. Gravy won't split since rice is included in the paste. A spongy vegetable rich in dietary fibre, low in fat, calories and cholesterol. Helps to reduce sugar levels in the blood and urine. An effective blood purifier, good for the skin and eyes. Strengthens the immune system and an excellent cooling agent.
Ridge gourd some times has a slight bitter taste, so included a tomato in the gravy. Gravy won't split since rice is included in the paste. A spongy vegetable rich in dietary fibre, low in fat, calories and cholesterol. Helps to reduce sugar levels in the blood and urine. An effective blood purifier, good for the skin and eyes. Strengthens the immune system and an excellent cooling agent.
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