Bottle Gourd Rice

My mom used to prepare this for our lunch box. She prepares it especially for my sisters whom you have to pay for eating vegetables :-)

If you are on a low calorie diet, Bottle gourd is the best choices to go for. 96 % of this gourd is comprised of water. It is high in Dietary fiber. It helps in weight loss and lowering the cholesterol in the blood.

Bottle gourd is also beneficial in conditions like jaundice and inflammation of kidneys. It has cooling and calming ability due to its good water content. It is absolutely helpful during summers and specially those who work under the hot sun.

Preparation Time : 10 mins. Cook Time : 20 mins. Serves : 3

Ingredients :
2 cups rice
3 1/4 cups water
1/2 Bottle gourd
1/2 Onion
2 Green Chilly
2 tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon chilly powder

For Seasoning :
1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 small piece cinnamon stick
4 garlic pods
1/2 inch ginger piece

Preparation :
1. Wash the rice and soak it for 10 mins.
2. If your bottle gourd is large, Cut it into two halves and use the one. If it's too small, use the entire one. Peel, wash and cut the bottle gourd into 1/2 inch cubes.
3. Smash the ginger and garlic together.

Method :
1. Heat the pressure cooker, Add oil, fennel seeds and cinnamon stick. After few seconds, add in the ginger and garlic mix and saute it for a minute.
2. Add the onion and green chilies. Stir well until the onion turn translucent. Add the tomatoes with little salt. Stir it well until the tomatoes get cooked well and it should go separate from the oil.
3. Add the bottle gourd and chilly powder. Stir it well.
4. Add the rice and water.
5. Close with a lid; Wait for the whistle and switch off the stove.

Serve hot with raita and pappad.

Note
I reduced 3/4 cups of water (Normally I add 2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice) as the bottle gourd leaves it's water content when cooked.

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