Chichinge Aloor Dalna( Snake Gourd Potato curry)

Snake Gourd is one of those vegetables which are rarely used and I think we have limited knowledge of preparations  of snake gourd. This dish is an authentic Bengali dish made of snake gourd as I am using "Paanch Phoron" ( mixture of Mustard, Cumin, Fenugreek, Black cumin and Sauf) which is the common phoron (tarka) in bengali veg curry  and I love the aroma of that. This  curry can be prepared with Parwal also as both the vegetables belong to same family. 

Ingredients:

 500 gms Snake Gourd

 2 Large Potatoes

 10 gms ginger piece.

3 green chili's

1 tomato (chopped)

1 tsp. turmeric powder

1 tsp roasted cumin powder.

1 tsp garam masala powder (powder of clove, cinnamon and cardamom)

1 tsp. paanch Phoron ( mixture of Mustard, Cumin, Fenugreek, Black cumin and Sauf) 

2 red chilis

Salt

Sugar

1 tsp. Ghee

Method:

1. Wash and cut  potato and snake gourd into  small pieces. Heat a little oil in a pan. Add the vegetables and little salt and saute for about 8 to 10 minutes. Take it out and keep aside.

2. In a grinder grind ginger , green chili and roasted cumin powder  to make a fine paste

3. Heat oil in a pan and add red chilli's and paanch phoron. Add ginger paste and fry for a couple of minutes. Now mix 1 tsp turmeric powder in 2 tbsp water and add the paste to the fried masala. Fry the masala for about 5 minutes. Now add chopped tomato and saute for 2  to 3  minutes. Add fried Snake gourd and potato pieces. Stir for sometime and add Salt , garam masala powder and a 1/2 tsp. of sugar.  

4. Add 1 cup of water. Cover with a lid and let it cook for 6 to 8 minutes with stirring in between. Once it is cooked, add 1 tsp. of ghee  and then turn off the heat.

Serve hot with Plain rice or chapatti.