Seasonal veggies are a terrific way to acquire your daily dose of nutrients without breaking the bank. As they naturally combat seasonal diseases and the flu, seasonal fruits and vegetables are the perfect additions to any diet.
One such vegetable is the spiny gourd or kheksa, which has a peculiar feel and is sold by your local vegetable dealer on carts. Kantola, or kheksa, as it is usually called, is a low-calorie, healthy monsoon vegetable. Momordica Dioica is also called Bristly Balsma pear, Prickly Carolaho, teasle gourd, and spiny gourd.
Jharkhand and some parts of Bengal use Kantola in different dishes. In various regions of the world, the fruits are occasionally eaten with meat or fish after being fried or prepared with spices. They are very delicious and unique. The taste of them with seeds is similar to karela but is a bit sweet and not bitter.
Different Dishes That Can Be Made With Kheksa
Kheksa sabzi
Kheksa sabzi is a tasty, subtly flavoured vegetable dish. The texture of the kheksa, or prickly gourd, is distinct because it has seeds with soft pulp. To make this sabzi you simply need to add the cumin seeds to hot oil along with the onions, ginger-garlic paste, and tomatoes. Later add the salt, turmeric, coriander, and chilli powders and stir. Once soft it will be ready to serve.
Kheksa Bhaji
If you wish to have khichdi, this bhaji can go very well with it. You need to add mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and kheksa along with salt and turmeric. To enhance the taste, add some coconut flakes and fresh curry leaves as garnish. This way, you can make a good fritter with regular batter too. It goes well with rice and dal.
Stuffed Kheksa
Stuffed kheksa is a rich dish with a spicy filling. It is similar to bharwa parwal. Prepare a stuffing with mashed potatoes, chopped onions, green chilies, turmeric, garam masala, and salt. Fill the kheksa with the mixture. Heat oil in a pan, place the stuffed kheksa, and cook on low heat until tender. You can add yoghurt and chopped mint leaves to complete the dish. It can be a great party dish and dinner to be served with rumali roti and achar.
Kheksa Curry
The curry is totally different from the sabji, as the curry has thick, creamy gravy while sabji can be dry. To make this dish, you need to add some cumin seeds, onions, ginger-garlic paste, and tomatoes. Then later add some salt, turmeric, coriander, and chilli powders and stir. After adding them, fry the kheksa slices for a few minutes and add water to the gravy. You can also choose kaju-based gravy or another of your choice to make the curry.
Kheksa Raita
Kheksa raita is a cool and refreshing side dish. The kheksa fruit is great for raita as it won’t become mushy, keeping its firmness. The kheksa adds a crunch and mild flavour. Chop kheksa and lightly sauté in oil with a pinch of salt, and mix it in dahi and spices to make it. Garnish with roasted cumin powder and chopped mint leaves.
This vegetable is very underrated but is very tasty. Introduce it to your kids as a new vegetable that induces nutrition. Kheksa is not available in supermarkets, this local veggie will only be available in local markets in mornings.