Tag: Gourd

5 Reasons Why Ash Gourd Water Makes The Perfect Body Cleanser During Winter

Most of you are surely aware of what ash gourd or winter melon is. Popularly referred to as ‘petha’ in Hindi, it is a seasonal vegetable, widely used to prepare a popular Indian sweet in the name (petha). But did you know that ash gourd is also used to make sabzis and chutneys, especially in the Eastern and Southern regions of India? That’s not all. It is consumed as a health food too. You heard us. Ash gourd is packed with various healthy ingredients that make it a very common seasonal food used in various detox drinks, juices, and more. Here, we will talk about ash gourd water that makes for a perfect drink to cleanse your body.

What Is Ash Gourd Water? What Makes It A Popular Health Drink?

Now, you must be wondering what ash gourd water is. It is the juice of raw ash gourd that contains 96% water in it. It super hydrating that helps you maintain the fluid level in the body and also prevents your body from risks of dehydration and dryness.

According to Deepti Tiwari, the consultant dietetics of CK Birla Hospital, petha or ash gourd is low in calories and contains a good amount of soluble fibres, vitamin B2, vitamin C, flavonoids, and more and “helps you with overall nourishment”. She further explains that the vegetable is great for your energy levels because of its riboflavin content, “which facilitates the activity of thyroid gland and stress hormones”. All of these come together to make the vegetable and its water a perfect cleanser for your overall health. Let’s elucidate further.

Also Read:What Is Winter Melon? What Does It Taste Like? Health Benefits Of Winter Melon

_{Photo Credit: Pixabay}

Benefits Of Ash Gourd Water: 5 Reasons To Drink Ash Gourd Water:

1. Helps you detox:

As mentioned, ash gourd contains a good amount of vitamin C and 96% water. This makes the vegetable and the drink antioxidant-rich, further flushing out excess toxins from the body.

2. Helps you manage weight:

Ash gourd contains soluble fibres, which not only keep you full for a long but also aid weight management during the winters. So drinking water every morning helps give your day a good start and eliminates the stored fat in the body.

3. Helps cleanse gut:

We all know a healthy gut is the first step towards a healthy body. Including the drink may help aid metabolism and digestion, which often get affected during the winter season.

4. Helps promote immunity:

The antioxidants and vitamins A and C help prevent oxidative stress in the body, further aiding the blood and oxygen flow. This helps fortify the body with nutrients to nourish and prevent seasonal diseases.

5. Helps with smooth body functioning:

Ash gourd helps keep your stress hormones in check, manages body weight, cleanses the gut, flushes out toxins, and more. All these factors come together for the smooth functioning of your body, including managing blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and more.

Can You Drink Ash Gourd Water Every Day? What Is The Right Dosage Of Ash Gourd Water?

Macrobiotic nutritionist and Health Coach Shilpa Arora states that drinking ash gourd water every morning acts as a sponge and cleanses your body of toxins while being super cool and calming on the tummy. But you need to be mindful about how much you are drinking in a day. The best practice is to keep it in moderation and drink not more than a glass a day.

How To Make Ash Gourd Water To Drink In The Morning:

Step 1. Clean the ash gourd, peel it, and dice it into cubes.

Step 2. Take half a cup of ash gourd and blend it with half a cup of water.

Step 3. Pour it into a tall glass and drink without adding anything else.

Enjoy a healthy, hearty, and happy winter, everyone!

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September 18, 2024
Ridge Gourd Dosa: This Dosa Recipe Is The Most Delightful Way To Consume Turai

Some vegetables often find themselves in the “least favourite” category in many households. Even though they have several health benefits, they are often repelled due to their texture, taste, and appearance. Ridge Gourd, known as Turai in Hindi, is one such vegetable. Although this vegetable is packed with nutrients, its spongy texture and slightly bitter taste make people frown. But, what if we tell you there’s an easy and delicious way to add this humble vegetable to your diet? If you are convinced, then we have an easy recipe for your – Ridge Gourd Dosa! In Kannada, this recipe is known as Heerekai Dosa, and is a delightful way to add this veggie to your diet! Want to know how to make it? But before that, let’s dive into some basic questions related to the recipe.

Also Read: Make Your Boring Vegetables Yummy: 3 Tasty Yet Healthy Turai (Ridge Gourd) Dishes To Try

Photo Credit: iStock

What Are The Health Benefits Of Ridge Gourd?

If you have scrolled till here, then it is possible that you might be interested in making this recipe at home. Well, let’s understand how eating ridge gourd can benefit your body. Ridge gourd, also known as Turai, is low in calories and high in nutrition so you can eat it daily. Known for its cooling properties, eating ridge gourd can help keep your digestive system healthy, thanks to high dietary fibres. This, in turn, also helps keep constipation at bay. Moreover, the vitamin C, zinc, water content and antioxidants present in this vegetable can do wonders for your skin and overall body.

Which Vegetables Can You Use In Place Of Ridge Gourd For This Dosa?

While this recipe tastes best with ridge gourd (turai), you can easily increase the intake of other “not so favourite” vegetables with this recipe. Instead of Ridge Gourd, you can use zucchini, bottle gourd, or even slices of cucumber to get the same texture and mild flavour. Since they can be sliced and dipped, they would be perfect for experimentation in this recipe.

How To Ensure That The Ridge Gourd Dosa Turns Out Crispy?

If you want your homemade ridge gourd dosa to be super crisp, make sure to get the batter right. The majority of taste in this dish relies solely on how you prepare the batter. It should be smooth and have a pouring consistency, meaning it shouldn’t be too runny or too thick. If it’s too runny, it will turn out to be moist. If it’s too thick, it will not spread well on the pan, and turn out to be a thick and chewy dosa. Also, make sure to cook this dosa on medium heat to get the desired crispiness.

Ridge Gourd Dosa Recipe | How To Make Ridge Gourd Dosa At Home

To make ridge dosa at home is pretty simple. This recipe was shared on Instagram by user @keertidacooks. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Soak Lentils

Start by preparing the batter for this dosa. Soak raw rice, urad dal, chana dal and methi seeds together for 3-4 hours.

2. Make The Batter

Strain the soaked ingredients and put them in a blending jar. Now put other ingredients – coconut, coriander seeds, turmeric powder, cumin seeds, bedgi chillies, tamarind pulp, and jaggery – in the blender. Add ½ cup water and grind the ingredients into a smooth batter. If you feel like the batter is too thick, add a bit of water and blend again.

3. Cut Ridge Gourd

Once you are satisfied with the consistency of the batter, set it aside. Wash and peel the ridge gourd and then cut it into medium slices. These should be at least 2 cm thick so that they cook evenly.

4. Cook Ridge Gourd

Take a cast-iron pan and grease it. Gently dip each slice into the batter and arrange them to make an approximate circle. To fill in the spaces, pour some batter where needed. Drizzle some oil and then cover and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side. Serve hot with butter or coconut chutney!

Watch the full recipe below:

Also Read: Leftover Turai Peels? Turn Them Into This Healthy And Tasty Recipe

So, try this easy dosa recipe at home to reap the maximum benefits of this Ridge Gourd!

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September 2, 2024