An unusual combination indeed, you are right even I thought so initially. When I was trying different combinations with the vegetable lauki, I tried out the combination and found it to be highly palatable. Not only is it a pleasure to eat, but the nutritional benefits are just mind boggling. One can carry on counting the benefits. I shall be dwelling upon the benefits in the succeeding paragraphs below.

Lauki With Sprouts

All vegetable recipes have common ingredients like onions, tomatoes, salt, oil and preferably are cooked on a slow flame.

This recipe is quite different is easy and quick to prepare, and is a fantastic dish to be quickly laid out when unexpected guest drop in, also you may get hooked onto it and prefer it as a healthy snacking vegetable in between meals. Not only does it satiate but provides innumerable nutrients.

Combination of bottle gourd and sprouts is now considered to be superfood. The ingredients can be enjoyed separately, but when combined the dish becomes doubly enjoyable.

Lauki alone is an amazing ingredient to prepare desserts like lauki ka halwa, and an amazing vegetable when we make lauki ka raita, these are greatly relished, and is my all time favourite.

What type of plant is lauki and what are the benefits?

Bottle ground is also known as lauki (in hindi) comes from the family of Cucurbitaceae . It is highly rich in Vitamin C, B, K, A, E which gives a healthier skin, also loaded with minerals like Iron, Folate, Potassium and Magnesium which are required on daily basis. Adding it daily to the menu in different forms keeps one's stress under control as the water in it has cooling properties.

Lauki is also known to be good digestive and is recommended when the stomach is upset and also acts like ant acid. It keeps one energetic throughout the day, also is on the menu of weight watchers who follow a strict diet. It also keeps us hydrated and aids in preventing constipation.

Why bottle gourd is bitter?

It belongs to Cucurbitaceae family, that contains the toxic tetracyclic triterpenoid compounds called cucurbitacins which is responsible for the bitter taste.

Lauki is a creeper or climber?

Lauki is a climber and require support as they can't grow upright on there own. Many of us who have visited farms must have seen them along with supports as they help them to grow upright. I too grow them in my backyard garden. Growing a plant and taking care of it is so wonderful, and when the plant bares the vegetable seeing the vegetable grow is sheer joy and ever so satisfying to see the mother nature at work .

Lauki comes from which plant family?

It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family is also known as Calabash or white gourd. You can grow it easily in your garden and that produce would too be 100% organic, the taste too would be unique and the lauki so soft that you would be transformed into a nature lover.

Side Effects Of Lauki

The benefits heavy out weigh the side effects, and some of the side effects are that if you eat uncooked bottle gourd you may have serve digestive problems like diarrhoea, vomiting etc.

Sprouts And Their Benefits And All You Need To Know

Sprouts are germinated form of moong dal. During humid and rainy days the sprouts appears in a day, whereas in dry weather it takes them two days to grow and these sprouts are loaded with plethora of benefits. Are known for antioxidant properties also contains lots of fibre along with vitamins A, C, K and folic acid. Sprouts are low in fat, rich in protein and fibres that's why it's on top of the list for the ones who are looking to loose few inches.

They can be used in any recipe to boost the recipes benefits. One can prepare chaat in minutes at home by adding tamarind sauce, corn flakes and mint chutney and mixing them well and you have a yummy snack, sprouts alone can be sprinkled in sandwiches to add nutrition and give the crunchy feel. When steamed it becomes soft ,easily digestible and may be introduced into children food.

Adding sprouts daily to one's diet helps to keep the heart in a healthy condition by keeping the blood pressure and cholesterol under control. Best time to have them is before dinner or early morning on an empty stomach, this is the way to derive the maximum benefits which these sprouts harbour. They help in building bones increase their density, also prevents hair loss and keeps them healthy.

How is a Combination Of Bottle Gourd and Sprouts Beneficial

After reading the benefits of the both you must have realized that there are loads and loads of benefits. But, to be on safe side it is always recommended that to one should consume it in recommended quantity. As we add sprouts to bottle gourd it makes it healthier, tastier and presentable. Not many enjoy it when they are lone dishes, but when combined it has an altogether different flavour along with the crunchiness of sprouts.

How To Cook

Ingredients (Serve - 2pax)

1 medium size lauki
1/2cup moong dal sprouts
2 tomatoes chopped and minced in a mixer
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp dhania powder
1/2 tsp garam masala

For tempering/tadka

1/2 tsp jeera/cumin

2 pinches hing / asafoetida
1 whole red chilli
1 tsp chopped green chilli
Few curry patta leaves

1tsp chana dal

Step By Step (Photo wise)

Step 1

Heat 2 tsp oil in a pressure cooker.

Step 2

Add all tadka ingredients and stir till they splutter and dal turns slightly brown.

Step 3

Add salt, turmeric, dhaniya and garam masala, stir for e few seconds.

Step 4

Add tomatoes, stir for 30 seconds.

Step 5

Add lauki and stir well for another 30 seconds.

Step 6

Add a little water so that the vegetables don't burn. Close the cooker lid and put on slow flame so that the vegetables release their water and cook in them. Put off the gas after a whistle and let the cooker cool on its own.

Step 7

Open the lid and put on the gas. Cook for a few minutes stirring and mashing the vegetables to get the desired consistency.

Step 8

Add the sprouts and cook only for 30 seconds and put off the gas. We don't want to overcook the sprouts because they are very rich in nutrients, we only want to remove the raw taste.

Step 9

Mix sprouts with bottle gourd. Now the vegetables loaded with nutrition is ready to be consumed.

Step10

Enjoy this healthy and yummy dish with bread/ roti of your liking.

Preparation

1) Heat 2 tsp oil in a pressure cooker.

2) Add all tadka ingredients and stir till they splutter and dal turns slightly brown.

3) Add salt, turmeric, dhaniya and garam masala. Stir for few seconds and immediately add tomatoes.

4) Stir for 30 seconds.

5) Add lauki and stir well for another 30seconds.

6) Cook for a minute.

7) Add a little water 4-5 tbsp so that the vegetables don't burn.

8) Close the cooker lid and put on a slow flame so that the vegetables release their water and cook in them.

9) Put off the gas after a whistle and let the cooker cool on its own.

10) Open the lid and put on the gas.

11) Cook for a few minutes stirring and mashing the vegetables to get the desired consistency.

12) Now add the sprouts and cook only for 30 seconds and put off the gas.

13) Cook sprouts till raw flavor has gone, don't overcook since they are loaded with rich nutrients.

14) Enjoy this healthy and yummy dish with bread/ roti of your liking.

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