Podalangai Poriyal With Peanuts/ Snake Gourd Curry

          Podalangai/ Snake Gourd, true to its name, looks like a snake, a green and long vegetable, but sometimes you see smaller versions of it too. First of all, you should know how to prepare this vegetable for cooking. Since it's a long vegetable, cut into palm-size lengths, slice it in the middle, scoop out the inner flesh with the seeds and discard it. I remember, the first time I cooked this vegetable for my husband, he was very skeptical about me throwing away the flesh and keeping the outer thick rinds, confusing me too, later I had to clarify it with a friend. Once you discard the inner flesh, you slice it. I have added some boiled peanuts for some extra taste, this goes well as a side dish with rice and dal or sambar..

Need To Have

• Podalangai - 3 cups, sliced
• Boiled Peanuts - 1/2 cup
• Mustard Seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Urad Dal/Black Gram - 1 teaspoon
• Asafoetida - 1/4 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - 1/4 teaspoon
• Curry Leaves - 10
• Salt - to taste 

To Blend

• Grated Coconut - 1 tablespoon
• Dried Red Chillies - 2
• Coriander Seeds - 1 teaspoon

Method

          Just coarsely grind the ingredients given under 'to blend', without adding any water and keep. Heat some oil, add the mustard seeds and the urad dal, once it starts spluttering, add the asafoetida. Mix and immediately add the sliced snake gourd pieces. Add 4 tablespoons of water, the turmeric powder and salt, reduce the heat, cover and cook till the vegetable is done and soft to the bite.

          Now add the cooked peanuts and the ground mixture, keep mixing it for another 2 minutes, add the curry leaves, mix it one more time and serve. Goes well with both rotis or rice along with any dal.

Note
Snake gourd is available in Indian stores, also available in the frozen section.
Can do the same curry with other vegetables like carrots, chayote.
Dry raw peanuts is available throughout the year, just pressure cook them.