Monday 21 February 2011

Gilki Turai / Sponge Gourd (Luffa)


English Name: Sponge Gourd / Luffa/ Egyptian Luffa

Common Hindi Name: Gilki / Chikni Turai

  • Luffa is 1-2ft long, cylindrical, smooth skinned gourd. The interior contains white flesh.
  • It is an annual climbing vine, grown both for its edible fruits and as a source of sponges.
  • The young fruits, when small, (around 6 inches) are cooked like other vegetables. They are also used in soup or stew.
  • The older fruits produce a fibrous vascular system. This fibrous structure is bleached and dried to be used as a sponge. The sponge can be used as bathroom sponge, packing material, for making crafts, and as filters. It is environmentally safe, biodegradable and a renewable resource.

3 comments:

Rashi Chopra said...

Hi Nidhi,

Your recipe looks great. I just saw your profile and looks like you live here in NJ. Do you get Gilki Turai here in US?

Anonymous said...

Hi Nidhi,

Your recipe looks great. I just browsed your profile and looks like you live in NJ. Do you get Gilki Turai here? I haven't seen it anywhere

Nidhi Raizada said...

thanks Rashi.....yes you get Gilki Turai at Indian Stores.....