Vegetable - Ash Gourd

Ash Gourd

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About the Vegetable :Ash gourd is a vine which is eaten as a vegetable. It is oblong in shape, can be around 1 to 2 metres in length, have a smooth or fine rounded and a lightly yellow or greenish flesh. This gourd keeps well for a longer time and is thus readily exported. These gourds were originally cultivated in South east Asia but have gained popularity in other parts of the world also.

Scientific / Binomial name :Benincasa hispida

Popularly Known as :White gourd, winter melon, tallow gourd, Chinese preserving melon, kundol, kondol,gondol white pumpkin, wax gourd, petha

Usage :

• Used in making winter melon soup, juices or stir fries.
• In South India, it is used in various ways. Use it with dal to make Kootu, or add along with other vegetables in Sambhar, Avial etc.In India, it is used to prepare a traditional sweet called Petha. It is pieces of gourd cooked in sugar syrup and then dried to allow hardening. It is a delicacy in Agra.Good quality and ripe ash gourd is needed for this recipe.In India, Ash gourd is used to make a liquefied dish with curds or buttermilk