Poppy seed is reported to be one of the vital ingredients in Asian cuisine. Facts provided claim that poppy seed is widely used as a spice in the East Indian cuisine and in the West it is mainly used in baking, salads and fish dishes.
However the prominent use of poppy seeds as a spice happens to be in vegetables like ridge gourd, potatoes, bitter gourd, cauliflower and spinach. The recipe of poppy seeds with ridge gourd is as follows:
Ingredients
Ridge gourd (peeled and chopped)
Potatoes (peeled and chopped)
Cumin seeds
Mustard seeds
Whole and dried red chilies
2 tablespoons Poppy seeds (soaked in water for 30 minutes)
Chopped Onions
Red chili powder
Salt
Oil
Method
1. Grind the poppy seeds into a fine paste.
2. Heat oil in a wok and add cumin seeds, mustard seeds and dried red chilies.
3. Once the seeds begin to splutter add onions and fry until brown.
4. To fried onions, add chopped ridge gourd, potatoes and salt.
5. Cook the ridge gourd and potatoes, covered, over a low fire until done.
6. Add poppy seeds paste to the cooked ridge gourd, followed by the addition of red chili powder.
7. Cook for 10 minutes and serve with white rice and fish curry.
