Humility has a name…

And it is called ‘ridge gourd!’ Beerakaya, as is called in my native tongue, dons many a roles in our South Indian homes. Curry, as I have made today, when complimented with steaming hot rice and a dollop of ghee awakens those nostalgic thoughts that have seemed to be lost during the ordeal of growing up. Equally tantalizing are other transformations of this humble vegetable — chutney, onion-spiced roast and a yogurt-based stew, which is called ‘majjiga pulusu.’

The ridge gourds that went into this curry were shared by our loving, generous neighbors, who originally hail from Fiji Islands. Sarsu Aunty and Latchman Uncle are in their 80’s and perfect examples to the adage, ‘age is just a number.’ They have a beautiful garden, sourcing all kinds of organic produce and often share their bounty with us. We feel blessed!