Lauki Soup.

Lauki (Bottle Gourd / Garduddhe) Soup for a healthy monsoon .........

Lauki / bottle gourd / garduddhe, is a vegetable that is considered very good for health. It has neglegible calories and is considered good for slimmers too. There are many benefits of this vegetable which you will find in the net. I include this vegetable for many a dishes that I prepare like saarupkari, kolambo etc. Many a times I have come across soups or cool drinks prepared by this vegetable. So today I went ahead and prepared a soup out of it and I liked the taste of the soup. Will continue to post this vegetable in different forms in near future. Do try and include this vegetable in your daily diet for health benefits.

Preparing the Soup Peel off the skin of one small Lauki / bottle gourd / garduddhe, say about ½ kg. and cut it to small pieces. Wash and keep them ready aside. In a pressure pan / cooker heat 1 tblsp of ghee, when it melts add in 2-3 green chillies chopped fine, 1/4 inch piece of ginger also cut into in small pieces, ½ tsp black pepper corns, ½ tsp of haldi and fry for a minute or two. Add one thinly sliced onion and fry for a few minutes till translucent. Now add in the chopped lauki / bottle gourd / garduddhe pieces, few coriander leaves and few putdina leaves (both pudina and coriander leaves are for flavour and is optional) and mix well. Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook to 3-4 whistles. 

Do not open the lid till the pressure in the cooker drops on its own. Once it has cooled down remove and grind to a fine paste in a mixer. Sieve through a large holed sieve (Optional) into a thick bottomed vessel. Add another cup of two of water, salt to taste and bring to a boil. Add a dollop of butter and mix well. Serve piping hot with some bread croutons or fried pappad.