15th fia fia cooking--Sponge Gourd Fried Egg (15/05/2012)

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TODAY SPECIAL: Sponge Gourd Fried Egg (6 Servings)

RECIPE                      PLACE:Fusi Alofa Association Tuvalu

Ingredient	Condiment
500g sponge gourd	Salt
Bacon	Sugar
0.5 onion	Black pepper
6 eggs	Corn flour

photo by Tracy

photo by Tracy

             DIRECTION:

1.     Peel the sponge gourd, remove the seeds, and dice it.

2.     Dice the half of onion.

3.     Cut the bacon into small pieces.

4.     Beat the 6 eggs, add some salt, sugar, and black pepper and mix it.

5.     Stir-fry the onion and bacon for a while, and put the spongy gourd into the wok to stir-fry about 3 minutes.

6.     When all the ingredients become cooler, sprinkle some flour, mix it, and pour them into the eggs. (The purpose of adding flour is to prevent the water comes out.)

7.     Pour the eggs into the wok, make the shape to be a circle, and fry the eggs over medium heat.  

8.     Stir the middle part of the frying eggs with chopsticks to make the egg becoming solidification easier.

9.     When the 80% of eggs become harder, turn it over to continue frying over low heat.
(If it’s not easy to turn over with a spatula, you can take a plate to cover on the wok and make the wok and plate upside down, and slide the egg from plate to wok, and then re-opened fire on low heat to cooked eggs.)

10. Until the eggs are fully cooked, you can remove it and cut into pieces to serve.

photo by Tracy

photo by Tracy

photo by Tracy

photo by Tracy

photo by Tracy

photo by Tracy

photo by Tracy

  Benefits of Sponge Gourd 

• A nutrition powerhouse: sponge gourd is loaded with nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin C, riboflavin, zinc, thiamin, iron and magnesium. It is also low in fat and calories.
• An ideal weight loss food: Being low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in dietary fiber, it becomes the ideal choice for anyone who wishes to lose some weight quickly. It also has a very high water content, making it a very low calorie vegetable (only 60 calories in 100 gm of cooked ridge gourd).
• Cure for jaundice: The juice prepared from sponge gourd is a natural remedy for jaundice. The juice can be prepared by pounding the bitter ridge gourd and squeezing it through a cloth.
• Blood purifier: Because of its blood purifying properties, it helps to purify, restore and nourish liver protecting it from alcohol intoxication.
• Lowers blood sugar level: It contains insulin-like peptides, alkaloids and charantin, which help to lower blood and urine sugar levels without altering blood insulin levels.
• Good for stomach: Cellulose in ridge gourd helps to overcome constipation and also aids in curing piles.
• Skin care: When sponge gourd is allowed to mature and dry on the vine, it can be harvested as a sponge. Sponge gourd has been used traditionally as an exfoliating product when bathing. They are very good for removing dead skin cells leaving the skin smooth and conditioned. They can also help stimulate the skin thus making it healthier and more vibrant.The blood purifying properties make sure that you stay away from pimples and acne. Sponge gourd can also help control body and foot odor.

• Strengthens immune system: A glass of sponge gourd juice mixed with other healthy vegetables in the morning can help to strengthen your immune system against any infection.