Sorakkai Paal Kootu | Bottle Gourd Milk Curry | Suraikai Paal Kootu

This sorakkai paal kootu (bottle gourd milk curry) is a typical South Indian style kootu that is both tasty and nutritious. Bottle gourd and milk are used to make this lightly flavoured kootu. It has a creamy texture and a tasty flavour.

Calabash, white-flowered gourd, long melon, and New Guinea bean are also names for the bottle gourd.

Sorakkai or suraikai is the Tamil name, Lauki is the Hindi name, and Anapakaya is the Telugu name.

While sorakkai is very nutritious, it should be used with caution. DO NOT USE IF IT TASTES BITTER.

It contains cucurbitacins, a cytotoxin that gives it a bitter taste and also induces toxicity when consumed.

It causes stomach ulcers which can be lethal in some cases.So, before using the bottle gourd, take a little slice and taste it; if it isn't bitter, use it; if it is, discard it right away.

See how to make this delicious traditional sorakkai paal kootu (bottle gourd milk curry) recipe below.

Ingredients

Sorakkai (Bottle gourd)-1/2-1 no (depending on size)

Green gram dal-1/4 cup (soaked in water for 10 mins)

Boiled milk -3/4-1 cup 

Garlic-4 cloves

Green chillies-2 nos slit lengthwise

Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp 

Urad dal-1 tsp  

Cumin seeds-1 tsp  

Red chilli-1-2 nos 

Curry leaves few 

Oil-2-3 tsps 

Ghee-1 tsp

Recipe Video

 Method 

👉Wash and scrape the skin of the bottle gourd and remove the centre white part along with seeds.Cut the bottle gourd to medium sized cubes.Set aside

👉Heat oil in a pressure cooker add mustard seeds, urad dal,cumin seeds, curry leaves and red chilli saute for few seconds.Next add green chillies, garlic and onion saute for a minute.

👉Add moong dal and sorakkai mix well.

👉Add salt and required water (around 3/4-1 cup) just enough to cover the veggie and dal.

👉Pressure cook for 3-4 whistles switch off the gas and allow the pressure to subside completely.

👉Open the cooker and again switch on the gas .

👉Add boiled milk and allow everything to boil until desired consistency.

👉Finally add ghee on top mix well and switch off the gas.

👉Serve hot .

 

Note -

✍️Instead of milk you can use coconut milk too.

✍️Drizzle coconut oil instead of ghee.

✍️You can use ashgourd, snakegourd, cauliflower etc instead of bottle gourd.

Preparation Time-25 mins

Serves -4