Stuffed Bottle gourd

Ingredients

 Bottle gourd 1 kg peeled & cut lengthwise

Lime 1

Salt 1 tsp

  

Grind to a paste

Mustard ½ tsp

Turmeric pdr ½ tsp

Garlic cloves 5

For the filling

Chickpeas/ kabuli chana boiled & crushes

Cottage cheese/ Paneer grated 1 cup

Boiled mixed vegetables 1 cup

Tomato puree 1 cup

Onions 2 grated

Ginger-garlic paste 1 tsp

Turmeric pdr ½ tsp

Coriander pdr 2 tsp

Cumin pdr ½ tsp

Salt & chili pdr to taste

Oil/ butter for basting

For garnish

Carrots/radish/beetroot/paneer grated

Onion/tomatoes finely sliced

Cabbage/lettuce finely shredded

Green chilies slit

Method

1)      mix salt, lime juice & the ground masala. Apply to gourd after cutting it into 2 halves & removing the centre pulp. Marinate for 1 hour.

2)      Steam the gourd for 5 minutes & place on a greased tray.

To prepare the filling

Heat 2 tbsp of oil. Fry onion, garlic ginger paste for 5 minutes.

Add the tomato puree & the powdered masalas.

Keep stirring till the oil leaves the sides of the pan.

Add the boiled vegetables & cook for 5 minutes.

Divide chanas & paneer into 2 equal parts.

Evenly presss the chanas inside the gourd followed by paneer.

Now in one half of the gourd spread the mixed vegetables. Cover with the second half.

Secure with tooth picks.

With a sharp knife make slits on the top.

Dot with butter

Bake/grill till golden brown.

Garnish with the given salad.

Serve hot with naan,