Heerekai Chutney

Ingredients

• 2 Cups of cubed Heerekai/Ridge gourd
• 4 Tbsp Groundnut
• 3-4 Green chilies
• 2 Tbsp Roasted sesame seeds powder
• 1 Tsp Tamarind paste
• 3 Tsp Oil
• 1 Tsp Mustard seeds
• 1 Tsp Jeera
• 1/4th Tsp Hing
• Handful of Coriander leaves
• Salt to taste

Ridge Gourd is called as heerekai in kannada. Heerekai chutney is one of the most common dish made in South India. There are many versions of doing this chutney, here is a simple recipe which can be made within 15mins.

Method :

• Heat a pan with 1 tsp of oil, add groundnut and chopped green chilies.
• When groundnut are nicely roasted, add cubed heerekai and sauté until they are soft.
• Switch off the flame. Add salt, roasted sesame seeds powder, tamarind paste and coriander leaves.

• After 3-4mins when its slightly cool down, add it to a mixer jar and grind it to a course paste and transfer it to a serving bowl.
• In a tadka pan add 2 tsp of oil, when its hot enough add mustard seeds and when it starts popping add jeera, hing and curry leaves. Switch of the flame and add to the chutney.

Note :

• Sesame seeds can be added along with groundnut and roasted. I had roasted sesame seeds powder so i used it.
• Coriander leaves can be skipped.
• This chutney can be made with only heerekai sippe/peel.
• Lemon juice can be added instead of tamarind paste.