Peerkangai (Ridge Gourd) Thogayal (Chutney) Recipe

For a first post, is chutney as a theme appropriate?  Hope it is so!  So here is the recipe for made a sumptuous, lip-smacking chutney made out of Ridge Gourd - Peerkangai thogayal or thuvayal (பீர்க்கங்காய் தொகையல் or பீர்க்கங்காய் துவையல்).  I made this Peerkangai thogayal for the Sunday Special, and thought of sharing the recipe.

Peerkangai thogayal or thuvayal (பீர்க்கங்காய் தொகையல் or பீர்க்கங்காய் துவையல்)

Preparation Time: ~10 minutes   Cook Time: ~15 minutes   Serves: 4

Ingredients:

Ridge Gourd (பீர்க்கங்காய்) - 250 - 400 grams (after peeling)
Mustard (கடுகு) -1/2 tsp
Urad dal (உளுந்து)- 2 tbsp
Asafoetida (பெருங்காயம்) - a generous pinch
Red or Green chillies (மிளகாய் -பச்சை or வற்றல்) - 3-4
Tamarind (புளி) - small marble sized ball
Oil (எண்ணை)- 1 tbsp

Optional:

Coconut - grated (தேங்காய் -துருவியது) - 2 tbsp
Onion (வெங்காயம்) - 1 medium size
Curry leaves (கறிவேப்பிலை) - 1 sprig
Coriander leaves (கொத்தமல்லி) - 1 sprig

Preparation:

Peerkangai:

• Peel the skin off the Ridge Gourd (some prefer to peel only the ridges and keep rest of the skin);
• Slice the Ridge Gourd into medium sized pieces, and wash in water;
• Heat the Pan or Kadai with 2 tsp of Oil;
• Add the Peerkangai slices, a little salt and cook till tender (~4 minutes).  Don’t add water (or very little ~10 ml) as Peerkangai will secrete water;
• Remove the cooked Peerkangai, and allow it to cool.

Frying:

• Heat the Pan or Kadai with 2 tsp of Oil;
• Add Mustard and Urad Dal;
• Add Asafoetida, Red or Green Chillies;
• If using the optional Onion & Curry leaves, do it now, and fry till the onion turns golden; else fry till Urad Dal turns golden brown;
• Add Salt to taste;
• Add the Tamarind and fry for 5 more seconds;
• If using optional grated Coconut, do it now;
• Add the partially cooled Ridge Gourd, stir and allow it to cool.

Grinding:

• Transfer the whole cooled, fried Ridge Gourd mix to the mixer jar;
• If using optional Coriander leaves, add them now;
• Grind into Chutney - some prefer it coarse, others as a fine smooth paste.

Enjoy the chutney with Rice, Idly, Dosa or even with a sandwich.

Tags: chutney,peerkangai-thogayal,ridge-gourd,recipe

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