People often make strange faces on hearing the name ghia, but it is nothing less than a boon. You get this vegetable every season, but it's especially advised to include it in the summers. Do you know why? Because it aids the maintenance of water levels in the body. Besides, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and fibre are also found, providing benefits like reducing weight, improving digestion, bringing a natural glow to the skin and strengthening the immune system. However, most people don't understand adding ghia to their diet. So here are some different ways for you:
Bottle Gourd Smoothie
If you want to manage your weight, ghia will help you with that too. For example, you can include a bottle of gourd smoothie as part of your breakfast. Prepared with water, lauki chunks, lemon juice, salt and cumin powder. This smoothie has a meagre calorie count, keeps your stomach full for a long time and helps you control your weight.
Bottle Gourd Raita
In summers, people prefer to consume curd in the form of raita. However, if you also like different types of raita, such as boondi raita, cucumber raita, pineapple raita, etc., you must try the gourd raita once. The bottle gourd is grated and boiled, then mixed into curd, along with black salt, fennel seed and cumin powder.
Bottle Gourd Pakode
In the mood for some deep-fried stuff? Then try some ghia pakodas, for which the batter can be made with rice flour, besan and mixed with spices. Then cut the bottle gourd pieces into round slices, dipped in the batter and then deep-fried till crisp. Now, serve these pakodas with ketchup and mint chutney.
Bottle Gourd Pudding
Are you fond of sweets? If so, you can pacify your taste buds by making this ghia kheer. However, to make it healthier and tastier, you can add jaggery to the kheer instead of sugar. Lastly, garnish the kheer with chopped dry fruits of your choice and serve it as per your choice (warm or chilled).
Bottle Gourd Koftas
If you are looking for a tasty sabzi, bottle gourd koftas will never disappoint you. Soft kofta balls in yummy gravy are the perfect dish with chapati or naan. P.S. You can make bottle gourd koftas for lunch.