Chalkumro Ghonto - Ash Gourd curry with milk and coconut

Chal kumro or Ash gourd is not pumpkin and not lauki. It looks like a lauki, but is darker green in color. It has some health benefits which is outlined in http://naturefitness.blogspot.in/2014/10/vegetable-ash-gourd-health-benefits.html. This preparation is a pure vegetarian and non-spicy healthy dish. But it does not compromise on taste and there is a nice aroma when prepared.  

Preparation Time: - 20 min

Cooking Time: - 35 min

Servings: - 5~6 persons

Ingredients:

1. 1 Medium Chalkumro ( Ash Gourd )
2. ½ cup grated Coconut
3. ½ cup Milk
4. 2 tsp Panchforon (Bengali 5 spices)/ Kalonji
5. 3 Green Chili slitted
6. 1 or 2 Bay leaf
7. Dry red chilli as per your taste
8. 5 tbsp Mustard Oil for authentic Bengali preparation. You can use vegetable oil instead if you want.
9. 1 ½ tbsp. Ghee
10. Salt and sugar to taste

Preparation:-

1. Thinly slice ash gourd and keep aside.
2. Grate a coconut so that it amounts to ½ cup in volume.
3. Put the coconut in a blender and blend for 1 min. You can smash the same in pestle and mortar.
4. Dry roast 1 tsp of Panchforon in a tawa and keep aside.
5. Take a frying pan / kadai with heavy bottom and heat the oil. I added ½ tbsp. ghee along with the mustard oil.
6. When the oil is sufficiently heated turn the burner in medium setting and add the bay leaf, 1 tsp Paanchforon and 1 green chilli. If you are using dry red chilli then pour them now. I did not use them.
   
7. Wait till the spices splutter. Then add coconut. Sauté for couple of minutes.
   
8. Now pour the ash gourd slices. Add salt and sugar as per your taste. Here sugar is not optional as this recipe needs some sweet taste but you can control the amount of sugar as par your taste.
   
9. Mix well and continue cooking. Ash gourd has lot of water and it will be released to aid boiling.
10. Cover the Kadai and continue boiling for 10-15 minutes in low flame.
11. Pour the milk when the mixture has dried up. Mix well and continue cooking.
    
12. When the mixture again dries up add 1 tbsp Ghee. Mix well and then turn the burner off.
    
13. Your dish is ready. For garnishing sprinkle the dry roasted paanchforon and a green chilli on top of the preparation.
    

Serve hot with rice. This is a side dish for rice only.

As always please feel free to comment, criticize and seek if any help is required. I am all ears.