10 Most Popular Gourd Vegetables of India
Vegetables are collectively known as edible plant, leaves, flowers and stems and roots, consumed by humans and main source of nutrition, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals. Vegetables in India can be eaten raw or cooked, Here is the list of most popular and common gourd vegetables available in India.
Sponge Gourd – तुरई ! गिल्के
Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) is the most popular species of Luffa Vegetables, Ribbed gourd being another and eaten fried or cooked with chickpea or dried peanuts or with beans.
Turai, Torai or gilki from an annual vine occasionally grown as an ornamental plant and dried loofah are usually used for bath scrubbing and as sponge in kitchens.
Bottle Gourd – लौकी ! दुधी भोपळा
Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) known by many other names, such as lauki in Hindi, also called as calabash gourds.
Lauki consumed as a vegetable in India and a super vegetables with list of incredible health benefits in juice form that promotes weight loss, heart healthy and good for liver.
Bitter Gourd – करेला
Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) widely grown in Asia, originated from the South Indian state of Kerala hence known as Karela in Hindi. Bitter melons are eaten as green and used in the dishes with roasted coconut and considered a medicinal food for diabetics.
Ridge Gourd – दोड़का
Ridge Gourd (Luffa acutangula) also known as Ribbed gourd or Angled luffa, cultivated and eaten as a vegetable in India. This vegetable is very popular in India along with another species called Sponge Gourd.
Snake Gourd – चिचिंडा ! चिचिण्डा
Snake Gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina) is very popular in the cuisines of Maharashtra and also grown in some home gardens in India.The super vegetable host list of health benefits and used in traditional medicine for many years.
Ash Gourd – कूम्डा ! पेठा ! सफेद कद्दू
Ash Gourd (Benincasa hispida) or wax gourd is the only member of Benincasa, eaten as a vegetable and used to prepare petha. wax gourd or winter melon are traditionally used to prepare a wide variety of Indian dishes and paired with pulses.
Pointed Gourd – परवल ! पटल
Pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica) is another vine plant grown for green fruits with white stripes and a vital summer vegetable in India. Parwal vegetables are good source of vitamins and minerals, cultivated mainly in eastern part of Bengal, Assam and Bihar.
Little Gourd/Ivy Gourd – कूंदरू ! टोंडली
Ivy gourd also known as little gourd (Coccinia grandis) is a popular vegetable in southern India and grown for its edible young shoots. Little Gourd fruit from a tropical vine is commonly found in the south India and have been used in traditional medicine.
Apple Gourd – टिण्डा ! टिंडसी ! ढेमसे
Tinda is another famous Indian squash vegetable especially popular in South Asia and also known by name apple gourd. Apple gourd (Praecitrullus fistulosus) is very unique apple sized green colored fruit also considered a boring vegetable but used in a lot of curries.
Spiny Gourd – खेक्सा ! कंटोला ! ककोड़ा
Spiny Gourd (Momordica dioica) is used as a vegetable across India and known by various names in different regions of India. Kantola is known as kakoda in hindi, Kheksi in Chhattisgarhi and some part of the Momordica dioica are used as traditional herbal remedies for diabetes.
