Parwal Aloo ki Sabzi
Parwal Aloo ki Sabzi
Parwal Aloo ki Sabzi adds so much more flavor to a simple humble meal. India is known for its vegetarian meals and not just any meal, these are so varied and full of nutrition.
People and especially doctors ask me how do I get my complete nutrition by eating “just” a vegetarian diet. The big question is “protein, how do I get my protein?” For many, my vegetarian diet is a big question of wholesome and healthy living in America.
Earlier, I used to get defensive and would come up with all kind of explanations to showcase my vegetarian diet in the best light. Now? I listen. I smile and say – I am happy eating how I eat. So many people are turning vegetarian or vegan for that matter.
Parwal Aloo ki Sabzi
I think this topic should not be debated upon. Each to its own! We do so many things just to fit in the society or to please others. Food should be connected to heart. It should make you feel happy. A bite of your food should make you feel “belong”. When you chew on it, every bite should evoke emotions. Your food should define who you are. If you want to put green chillies in your chai and drink it, then go ahead. Let people think whatever. Be yourself around food.
Having said that, I do not mean to eat unhealthy or to ignore your health at all.
Do you think I was ranting above? I was not. I was just getting carried away. 😀
Let us get back to Parwal Aloo ki Sabzi. Parwal is called Pointed Gourd and belongs to the family of cucumber and squash. It grows on vine. The fruit is green with white or no stripes on it. It can be small and round to longer and thick, with size varying from 2 inches to 6 inches. This fruit is rich in Vitamin A & C along with a good source of trace minerals. It is popular by many names in India – Potol , Kaadu, Kommu Potla are few to name.
Parwal / Pointed Gourd
When Parwal reaches the market, it becomes over ripe sometimes and turn yellow. It has seeds inside, in the middle. A ready to cook parwal is young and tender. The flesh inside is soft with seeds which are tender and ready to be used in cooking. A ripe parwal has seeds which are hard and you should remove these before cooking. When you are cutting the parwal and come across a ripe parwal with yellow inside and hard seeds, simply take a spoon and scrape the portion out. It is good to use. You can find all that I have described in the picture above – the over ripe, the fresh and tender, the scraped and the one with hard seeds.
You can cut the parwal in desired size and shape. Many a times, we stuff it with spices or other ingredients and cook it like Bharwaan Baingan or Bharwaan Karela . Either way, it is delicious.
For this vegetable preparation, I washed them and cooked these with potatoes. Both of the vegetables were sliced thin like french fries. Why? Because it makes the preparation more crunchy. That is my simple answer. 🙂
Parwal & Aloo sliced
The best part about this recipe is that it does not need any fancy ingredients or spices, other than the mundane ones as stored in your spice box. I love the recipes, that are easy and have fewer ingredients that are easily availbale. I bet we all do.
I will repeat my cliche’ statement that I always mention –
Life is already complicated, therefore our recipes need not be !!
Some other dry vegetable preparations from my blog are – Bharwaan Bhindi , Aami Mirchi ki Sabzi , Kathal ki sabzi , Mooli ke patte ki sabzi and many more.
This is how I made it!
- Parwal / Pointed Gourd - 7 to 8, medium size
- Potato - 2, medium size
- Mustard oil - 1 tbsp
- Asafetida/Hing - fat pinch
- Cumin seeds/Jeera - ½ tsp
- Coriander powder/ Dhaniya powder - 1 tbsp
- Fennel powder / Saunf - 1 tsp
- Turmeric / Haldi - ½ tsp
- Red chili powder / Lal mirch - ½ tsp
- Salt to taste
- Make sure that the Parwal and Potatoes are of the similar size.
- Wash and wipe all the Parwal or pointed gourd. Wash and peel the potatoes.
- Slice the Parwal into thin long slices. Slice the potatoes also into thin long slices.
- Potato and Parwal slices should be of similar length and thickness.
- Set aside.
- Add asafetida/hing, cumin seeds, turmeric, coriander powder, fennel powder, red chili powder and salt to it. Stir all the spices in mustard oil for few seconds on low flame. Do not burn the spices.
- Add the sliced potatoes and Parwal/Pointed Gourd to the spices. Stir it well. Make sure that the spice mix coats the vegetables well enough.
- Now increase the flame to medium hot. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of water. Cover and cook for about 6-7 minutes. Stir 2-3 times in between. Steaming the vegetables under covered lid is important. It is to make sure that the vegetable gets cooked from inside, in case there is any over ripe or hard piece of Vegatable. It softens the potatoes also.
- Open the lid after 6-7 minutes. Check for the finesse of potatoes with a fork prick. They should be soft. Now cook the mix of potato and Parwal in open flame over medium heat. Cook for about another 5-6 minutes till the Vegatable becomes crisp.
- Switch off the flame. Serve it warm with your meal or any lentils and rice or chapati.
Isn’t the dish simple and easy? I am sure you loved it! My kids got introduced to this combination for the first time and were not sure if they would like it. I served them as this is a house rule – everybody eats what is cooked. And that actually liked it :).
Parwal Aloo ki Sabzi
If you find the parwal in the market next time, get some and cook this for your family. I served it with Dal Lehsuni , chapati / roti and some salad.
As I say – Eat Happy! Stay Happy!
Sonal
Elaine @ foodbod
Simple and lovely! And I completely agree, to each their own. I eat in a way that makes me & my body happy, I never understand why that should cause anyone any consternation?! To each their own 🙂
simplyvegetarian777
No wonder I adore you so much Elaine <3
Nancy
I’ve never heard of Parwal… thanks for the education. This sure looks delicious!
simplyvegetarian777
Thank you Nancy ❤️
pianolearner
I have never heard of Parwal before. It must be very easy to buy here in the UK in asian shops. I will keep a look out.
simplyvegetarian777
Thanks so much :). It is easily available in frozen vegetable section in indian grocery stores in USA, so my guess is that you can get it in UK as well.
anyone4curryandotherthings
Namaskaram Sonal – I am not a vegetarian nor is anybody in our little family, but…..you will find us eating ‘vegetarian’ food on the odd days! per week, just because we are not in the mood for any kind of meat. I love to try your above recipe, since – to my knowledge – I not have tasted it in the 14 years I am now here in Kerala :). And I love your point at the beginning of your article…….eat what you like and STOP worriying what other people might say. You are right, just say nothing, smile and listen!
Somebody famous in the film business once said: “I do not worry what people might say – the fact is, if I do something right or good – people will talk, if I do something wrong or bad – people will talk, so…….I only start worrying once people stop talking about me alltogether!!!!! – Love this, and this is my attitute. 🙂 🙂
simplyvegetarian777
thank you so much for your lovely words dear :). do try it and i hope you like it. They might call it Kambupudalai (Tamil) or patolam (Malyalam) in kerala. stay in touch. would love to learn about your vegetarian ventures in India.