Mystery Vegetable

I am tending my neighbors garden while they are away until late October. I came across this vegetable today and I'm not sure what it is or if it is ready to be harvested. My guess is sometype of squash because it grows on a vine that looks much like zucchini.
I

GiGi26
  • Posted by: GiGi26
  • September 8, 2012
  • 4201 views
  • 6 Comments
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6 Comments

Quinciferous
Quinciferous September 8, 2012
This seed company seems to say that bottle gourd and calabash are the same!
http://www.evergreenseeds.com/calgouropo.html

In any case, I would let it ripen a bit more, then use it like a bottle gourd. You are right that subji/sabji/sabzi is a vegetable dish, usually in a sauce. Thus, search "lauki ki sabji" to find lots of basic recipes online. But my favorite is lauki made into kofta (fried dumplings in spiced sauce).

I have not tried this recipe but it looks good:
http://showmethecurry.com/curries/lauki-bottlegourd-koftas-healthy-vegetarian.html
 
GiGi26
GiGi26 September 8, 2012
Thank you Pistachio! Am I correct to understand "subji" just means vegetable dish and gajar ka halw is the desert usually made with shredded carrots? I'm thinking I can use it in place of any vegetable of like consistancy.
 
Devangi R.
Devangi R. September 10, 2012
Yes, subji is exactly what is eplained below. You can make it with a combination of potaotes and calabash with cumin seeds and Indian spices. or you can also combine it with "chana dal" makes an amzing dish. and, yes gajar halwa is exactly what you understood it. just replace carrots to calabash.
The idea of kofta is also delightful..enjoy
 
Devangi R.
Devangi R. September 8, 2012
I thought first it is bottlegourd. but, looking at the above link it looks like calabash..Indians use a lot of bottlegourd in cooking..usually this is the perfect color for ripe one. peel the skin and use it . you can make subji, or a dessert just like gajar ka halwa...
 

Voted the Best Reply!

sdebrango
sdebrango September 8, 2012
I think its a calabash squash, it doesn't appear to be fully ripened. Here is a link, scroll down a bit and you will see a picture.
http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/vegetables/squash-glossary5.asp
 
GiGi26
GiGi26 September 8, 2012
Thanks so much sdebrango!! My neighbor is from India and I was sure they are something she used that I was not familiar with. Since your answer I have looked up indian recipes using calabash squash and have found quite a few. I guess I'll give them a chance to ripen and try some new recipes.
 
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