Sessile joy-weed curry with Snake gourd fry (பொன்னாங்கண்ணி கீரை மசியல் & புடலங்காய் உசிலி )

Sessile joyweed curry with Snakeguard fry

 (பொன்னாங்கண்ணி கீரை மசியல் & புடலங்காய் உசிலி )

Sessile Joyweed, Ponnanganni keerai as it is called in Tamil, has many health benefits. Like any other Spinach, this type is also very good for the eyes and skin. In addition it has anti ulcerative properties and can even be given as a treatment for hepatitis.

Sessile joyweed curry (கீரை மசியல்) Recipe 

Ingredient :

Sessile Joyweed  -  1 bunch

Small Onions  -  5

Garlic  -  3 Cloves

Tomato  - 1 Big

Green Chillies  -  2

Boiled Toor dal  - 2 tbsp.

Seasoning 

Mustard, Urad dal & Cumin seeds  - 1/2 tsp each.

Dry red chilli  -  1

Asafoetida  -  a pinch

Salt - to taste

Steps:

Remove the Keerai leaves from the stem and wash thoroughly.

Peel and slice the onions and garlic.

Boil the above with green chillies.

Boil for 3 to 4 min.

Allow it to cool and make a coarse paste.

Add the boiled toor dal and mix well.

Heat oil in a pan and add the seasoning and transfer to the curry.

The curry is ready to be relished with hot white rice. For enhanced taste, add a tsp of ghee.

Snake gourd fry

 (புடலங்காய் உசிலி)

Snake gourd improves our digestive system and aids with weight loss.

It is easily digested and hence if one is recovering from illnesses this vegetable is preferred.

Ingredients:

Snake gourd  -  2

Channa dal  -  1/4 cup

Turmeric powder  -  1/4 tsp

Red Chilli powder  -  1 tsp

Fennel seeds  -  1 tsp

Asafoetida  - 1/8 tsp or a pinch

Oil  - 3tbsp

Salt to taste

Steps:

Soak the channa dal for 30min.

Wash and slit the snake gourd lengthwise, deseed it. Cut into small pieces and mix with half a spoon of salt to it and keep aside.

Drain the water in the channa dal. Coarse grind this with fennel seed, turmeric powder and chilli powder.

Heat a kadai and add oil.

When the oil is hot, add asafoetida followed by the snake gourd. Stir for a min.

Add the coarse ground masala and mix well.

Sprinkle some water and close the kadai with a lid.

After 2 min, stir fry without the lid,  turning now and then.

The masala and the vegetable is cooked uniformly into a golden brown roasted form.

This dish is an excellent side dish for any type of rice.

My notes:

Keerai masiyal and pudalangai usili is a great combination.

Snake gourd can be cooked as gravy form also - in sambar or as kootu.

The simple dish of steamed snake gourd with just seasoning of mustard, urad dal and grated coconut added to it is a good dish for elderly and children as it is neither spicy nor oily.