Unusual veggies - how we laughed!

[veggiechicken]

So I went to Morrison's for more buckets and saw a range of unusual veggies that I just had to have - not so much to eat as to grow. I gathered up 4 different items and eventually reached checkout - by which time I'd forgotten what they were called
They were new to the checkout girl too and she had to look at images of the items to match them to the names and prices.
First up, looking like dried out chicken wings was - Galangal.
The second I could remember - Turmeric roots
Third were two round objects like dark hairy Kiwi fruit - start the giggles - as the checkout girl, after much feeling, decided they were Eddoes.
Finally, a long, pale greenish white, cucumber-like object -all I could remember was it was something beginning with D! By this time, I was crying, the girl behind me wanted to rush back for one and the checkout girl was announcing to all and sundry - It begins with what, a D? No, it can't be called that! Its a Dud - eye (Cardiff pronunciation).
Turns out its a Dudhi or bottle gourd!
Next question has anyone grown any of these items and can give me some tips.
Oh, and how do you eat them?

[T8Ter]

Hi VC, here's an Indian recipe - never cooked onwe myself but you can use the Turmeric root in place of powdered turmeric and the galangal instead of ginger - as for the eddoes I think you boil them like potatoes?

Dudhi Channige

250 gms chana dal
1/2 kg bottlegourd (dudhi)
3 onions, chopped finely
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala
2 cm piece ginger
4 green chillies
2 tomatoes
1 lemon
2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped
oil as needed
salt to taste

seasoning:

1 clove garlic
1 red chilli
a pinch of cumin seeds
a pinch of asafoetida
a small piece of ginger, sliced

Heat 2 tbsps oil and fry the onion till golden brown. Add chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, chopped ginger, green chillies and chopped tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes. Add the channa dal and water enough to cook till dal is soft. Peel and cut the bottlegourd into small pieces and add to the dal mixture. When the vegetable is cooked, add the garma masala powder and salt to taste. Squeeze in lemon juice. Heat 2 tbsps oil, fry the whole red chilli, sliced ginger, crushed garlic, asafoetida and cumin seeds. Pour over the dal mixture. Garnish with coriander leaves.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks T8ter. Looks good though I need to renew my spice collection first. Standing next to me, filling her trolley with Dudhis, was the lady who cooks the meals at the India Gate cold food Takeaway in Rhiwbina. She uses them in Bhunas and said they are watery. She also said that turmeric root had medicinal uses. I don't think she believed me when I said I wanted to grow them!

[Two_Sheds]

We have galangal in our Thai curry mixes and Tom Yum paste

[VirginVegGrower]

Crikey VC - I'm glad you didn't hold the latter up and ask what do I do with this?

[veggiechicken]

I didn't have to, the checkout girl did all the actions!
Walking back to the car, the tears were running down my cheeks and the sympathetic looks I was getting made me laugh all the more. I haven't been brave enough to take them out of the bag yet!

[Matt94]

oh VC - i can always count on you making me smile

[horticultural_hobbit]

Dudhi always gets a giggle in our house, for no good reason. It doesn't appear that often. Think pops just picks it up by fluke in sainsburys as it qualifies as an Indian vegetable! Ma mostly curries it in the same way you would a courgette or a marrow. Also, grated and boiled, it can go into raita just like cucumber. I'm not sure how readily it grows here in blighty. I know the sowing new seeds people at ryton are trying to get people sowing it. Thing is, Bollywoods won't let the dudhi get over ripe; sooner curry it and therein not be able to save the seeds. An over ripe squash, for example is usually met with disdain.

Dudhi's are all right. Not bad.

[binley100]

I don't know about growing galangal but turmeric you grow like ginger . Dhudi is a bottle gourd , don't forget to save the seeds . We had a talk on our exotic seed day about growing all these ...... You can grow eddoes as well but I've forgotten what to do , would need to read my info sheet.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks HH, I hoped you come in on this How would you pronounce Dudhi?
This one doesn't look very ripe

[horticultural_hobbit]

Dude-y.
As in dude like.

It's over ripe if the seeds are prominent when you cut it, and it's really dry and firm inside I think.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks HH, That's how I thought it would be said but the chckout girl was having none of it - Dud-eye!!
Don't think this one is ripe - I've just shoved my nail into its skin

[horticultural_hobbit]

I'd curry it, VC. Or ratatouille it. Think it would need cooking for a long time. So that it is squishy like a courgette. Think they are very similar.

Has anyone on vine ever tried bitter gourd? Hate the bleeders, us kids call them
Crocodiles. Ma and pops love them! Vile critters, keralas. Meant to be very good for diabetics, though.

[binley100]

You can dry it and make things with it ............like water bottles and bird houses

[binley100]

Seen those HH but never tried one ........