Beerakaya Thokku Pachadi

Beerakaya/ Ridge gourd is rich in fiber. Apart from making curry and dal from the vegetable, even the skin can be used in pachadi preparation which is preservable and easy to make. It tastes yummy with hot rice and ghee.Here's how it is made:

Ingredients:

Beerakaya thokku - 1 cup
Urad dal - 1-2 tbsp
Sesame seeds - 1-2 tbsp
Red chillies - 6-7
Tamarind - Lemon sized
Oil - 2 tbsp

Tempering :
Oil- 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 2 tbsp
Urad dal(whole) - 2 tbsp
Green chillies - 2
Curry Leaves - 5-6


Procedure:

1. Heat oil in a pan and add urad dal, sesame seeds and red chillies and let fry till golden brown and remove it to a plate and let cool
2. Now, to the same pan add the ridge gourd skin and let it cook until it loses the raw smell/ turns pale and appears cooked. Remove it to a separata bowl and let cool.
3. Grind the sesame seed mixture with salt and to this add the ridge gourd skin, tamarind and grind well.
4. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, once they splutter, add urad dal, slit green chillies and curry leaves and add the grinded pachadi and mix well.
5. Turn off the heat and transfer the pickle into a dry airtight container once cool.
6. Serve with hot rice and ghee.