Ridge gourd is one of the most commonly used vegetable in Indian cuisine. Turai, gilki, beerakaya, peerakangai are some of the regional names to this veggie. Ridge gourd is used to make curry, added to dals & even made to a spicy chutney. I am sharing a simple ridge gourd curry recipe which turns out delicious and is so simple to make.
This andhra style beerakaya curry can be easily tweaked to suit your taste. It goes well with plain rice, ghee or roti & phulka.
I make this kind of simple, healthy & delicious vegetable curries for our dinner. It just takes about 30 minutes from start to finish including chopping and preparing the ridge gourd.
Choosing ridge gourd
Ridge gourd is one veggie which is best consumed when it is young. When it is fully ripened or aged the veggie turns fibrous and is not good for consumption as it doesn’t get cooked well.
Young ridge gourd has sweeter tones & taste delicious whether it is in the curry, dal or chutney.
This veggie is prepared in various ways. In this post what I have shown is one of the simplest ways to make a ridge gourd curry. It is made by simmering tender ridge gourd pieces along with tomatoes & spice powders.
I have not used onions in the recipe. However if you prefer you can use them. I have spiced the curry with homemade lentil podi which I shared in the notes. You can also use sambar powder or idli podi if made from this blog.
More vegetable curry recipes,
Drumstick curry recipe
Bottle gourd recipe
Vegetable kurma
Mix vegetable curry
Beerakaya curry or Ridge gourd recipe
Ridge gourd recipe
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
Ingredients for ridge gourd recipe
- 500 grams ridge gourd cubed (beerakaya, turai)
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 sprig curry leaves (skip if you don’t have)
- ½ tsp mustard
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 Pinch hing or asafoetida
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped (optional)
- 2 small onions small, (optional) (about ½ cup chopped)
- 1 green chili (optional)
- ½ cup tomatoes ripe, red, chopped finely
- Salt as needed
- 1/8 tsp turmeric powder or haldi
- ½ tsp red chili powder (use as needed)
Spice powder
- ¾ tbsp chana dal or bengal gram
- ¾ tbsp urad dal or skinned black gram
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tbsp dried coconut
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)
- ½ tsp jeera or cumin
- 1 red chilli
- 1 pinch methi seeds (optional)
How to make the recipe
Preparation
- Dry roast red chilli, chana dal and urad dal until the dal turns golden and aromatic.
- Then add garlic, sesame seeds, jeera and coconut. Fry until coconut turns aromatic.
- Cool completely and make a fine powder. Set this aside
- Wash ridge gourd well, then peel off the skin. If using organic gourd, then you can use the peel to make chutney.
- Chop the ridge gourd to half inch pieces and set aside.
- Wash and chop onions & tomatoes finely. I do not use onions for this recipe just to cut down the cook time.
How to cook ridge gourd
- Heat the pot with oil, then add mustard and cumin. When they begin to crackle, add hing and curry leaves. Then add garlic and chilli. Saute for 1 minute.
- If using onions add them and fry till transparent. Then add the ridge gourd and fry on a medium flame for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, salt, red chili powder and turmeric. Mix and fry for about 2 minutes.
- Cover and cook on a low flame. After a while the gourd will begin to ooze out moisture. Keep stirring occasionally to prevent burning, continue cooking till the tomatoes and gourd are soft cooked.
- Some gourds do not let out any moisture in that case sprinkle 3 to 4 tbsps water and cook. I do not use water at all.
- When the ridge gourd is finished cooking, you should be left with little thin gravy.
- Sprinkle the spice powder made earlier.
- Cover and cook until the curry turns slightly thick for about 4 to 5 mins. Taste the curry and add more salt as desired.
- Serve ridge gourd curry with rice or roti.
NUTRITION (estimation only)
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
If you are new to cooking, follow my detailed step by step photo instructions for best results.
More similar recipes
Beerakaya pachadi
Beerakaya fry
Beerakaya pappu
Preparation
Please follow the recipe card and make the spice powder.
How to make ridge gourd curry
1. Add oil to a pan and heat. Add mustard and cumin. When they splutter, add curry leaves. If you like to use garlic, add it now and fry for a minute. Next add onions and fry till transparent. I did not use both.
2. Add chopped ridge gourd or beerakaya pieces. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes on a medium flame.
3. Add chopped tomatoes,red chili powder turmeric and salt.
4. Fry till the tomatoes are lightly mushy for about 3 to 4 minutes.
5. Cover and cook on a very low flame. Ridge gourd will begin to release juices, just cover and cook till soft. If needed sprinkle some water.
6. Add vepudu karam (details in recipe card). Fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
7. Pour very little water to make a thick curry.
8. Cook till the ridge gourd gravy thickens and the veggie is soft cooked.
If you like you can garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with rice or chapathi.
Shanthini Jayanthan says
Tried your Ridge gourd curry. Was very easy and tasty but did not get any gravy. May be will add some water next time. Thank you.
swasthi says
Hi Shanthini,
It depends on the gourd. Some release a lot of moisture as it gets cooked. Some don’t. As mentioned in the recipe, yes you may pour little water.
Madhuram says
I tried this recipe today because I was bored of making the same old koottu and pachadi recipes again and again. This was a super hit at home. Thank you for sharing this ridge gourd recipe. It’s going to be a regular at our home.
swasthi says
Hi Madhuram,
So glad you liked it. Thank you so much for being here.
🙂
Shree says
My kids ate ridge gourd happily for the first time, without fussing our Tom and jerrying my way behind them with food, thank you, it turns out great without garlic too
swasthi says
Hi Shree,
Glad they liked it. You can check this beerakaya stir fry. You can try that as well. I am sure your kids will love that one too. Thank you!
Sandra says
It tastes very bad. I tried it. Tomatoes spoil the dish. Plus there are too much onions. It actually tastes better without the masala added at the end.
swasthi says
Hi Sandra,
There can be many reasons for a dish to turn out bad. In this recipe, 2 small onions will come around half cup when chopped. I do not know how much you have used. Next the curry gets the flavor from the spice powder used. It means Everest masala did not go well for your taste buds.
Sandra says
Can I use Everest sambar masala for sambar powder? Will idli karam or karam podi work?
swasthi says
Hi Sandra,
Yes you can use everest sambar masala. Idli karam is made differently in different regions. Not sure if the one you have works.
Rita says
All recipies are too good for health.Easy processing.
viswanath says
thank you super taste
prasoona says
good
swasthi says
Thanks Prasoona
prasoona says
hi swathi, i try the beet root and beerakaya curries.it is tasty and cooking that easy methods. thank you.
swasthi says
Hi Prasoona,
i am so glad you liked the curries. Welcome and thanks for the feedback
Grace Timothy says
Hi swathi, I try beerakaya curry its was tasty & fast to do. Thank you.
swasthi says
welcome grace,
Iam glad you liked it
Suman says
Dear swasthi
I have come across so many websites claiming healthy recipes but when you see the recipes they are loaded with either butter or cream. Yours are REALLY healthy and also unique. I am surely goin to try some
swasthi says
Hello Suman,
Iam very glad to read your feedback. hope you will like them.
🙂