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Bottle Gourd

Also Known As : calabash, white-flowered gourd,long melon, New Guinea bean,Tasmania bean, doodhi, ghiya, lauki
Technical Name : Lagenaria siceraria
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Vegetarian

Taste Profile

It has a sweet and bitter taste.

Usage Tips

  1. Bottle gourd is great for slow roasting, baking and pureeing for soups and stews.
  2. It can be sautéed, fried, pickled or grilled.
  3. In Maharashtra, India the skin of the Bottle gourd is used to make a chutney preparation.
  4. In Central America the seeds are toasted and ground with rice, cinnamon and allspice to make a beverage known as horchata.
  5. Its flavor and texture pair well with eggplant, tomato, onion, chile peppers, fennel, ginger, garlic, chickpeas, lentils, coconut milk, pork, shellfish and roasted meats.

Common names and forms

  1. Dudhi or Bottle Gourd
  2. Fresh small sized bottle gourd
  3. fresh spotless bottle gourd (long one)
  4. Ghiya
  5. Gourd
  6. Guard
  7. Lau Shak (Bottle Gourd Leaves with Stem)
  8. Lauki

Description

Bottle gourd is a vegetable that is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. It can be short and round, uniformly cylindrical, curved, bulbous, or extremely long and thin. Its skin is most often smooth though there are some varieties that are covered in fine hairs. Its coloring can vary from a light green or chartreuse to dark green. The interior flesh is creamy white with petite seeds that when young are tender and edible but when more mature become hard and should be removed prior to consumption. Bottle gourd has a rich history and was one of the first cultivated plants in the world. Today it can be found growing around the world, thriving in tropical and sub-tropical climates. High on water and rich in vitamins and minerals, bottle gourd is also an effective home remedy for many health issues.

Health benefits

  • Rich in dietary fiber, bottle gourd is easy to digest and is helpful in curing constipation and even piles. (1)
  • Bottle gourd contains approx 96% of water and that’s the reason it is considered a perfect thirst quencher. It also prevents fatigue, especially during summers. (1)
  • Having a bowl of boiled lauki daily helps in lowering blood cholesterol levels and thus keeps the heart-healthy. (1)
  • Rich in sodium, potassium and other essential minerals, bottle gourd in the form of a dish or juice helps regulate blood pressure. (1)
  • Bottle gourd is recommended by Ayurveda physicians for balancing the liver function when the liver is inflamed and unable to process food efficiently for nutrition and assimilation. (2)
  • Apart from the iron content it is also rich in vitamin B and C and helps in anti-oxidative actions. (2)

Selection Guide

Ensure that the bottle gourd has smooth skin and is pale green in color. Avoid the one with cuts, blemishes and spots.

Note

Overconsumption of bottle gourd can cause abdominal pain, intestinal gas and intestinal blockage. It can also cause allergic reactions in some people. It can also cause high blood pressure.(3)

Resource & Links

(1) https://recipes.timesofindia.com/articles/health/13-reasons-lauki-is-an-incredibly-healthy-vegetable/photostory/64868615.cms?picid=64868646

(2) https://www.practo.com/healthfeed/16-reasons-why-lauki-is-healthy-3556/post

 (3) https://goodhealthall.com/side-effects-of-eating-too-many-bottle-gourds/

- Disclaimer
"Information here is provided for discussion and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or product or ingredient review/rating. The information may not apply to you and before you use or take any action, you should contact the manufacturer, seller, medical, dietary, fitness or other professional. If you utilize any information provided here, you do so at your own risk and you waive any right against Culinary Communications Private Limited, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees or representatives.”