Thursday, July 10
    Facts

    Hairy Gourd Facts

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    Hairy Gourd FactsHairy Gourd is a nutrient dense vegetable found growing in fertile, medium moisture, organically rich, well-drained loam soil. It is green to dark green with pale green speckles and have mild subtle flavor somewhat like a cucumber or summer squash. It must be included in our regular diet to remain safe from different life threatening illness.

    Name Hairy Gourd
    Scientific Name Benincasa hispida
    Native Origin is uncertain but Indo China and India are regarded to be the centres of greatest diversity.
    Common/English Name Fuzzy Gourd, Festival Gourd, Hairy Gourd, Fuzzy Melon, Jointed Gourd,  Hairy Cucumber, Hairy Melon
    Name in Other Languages Vietnamese: Bi.
    Chinese : Jie Gua, Chieh Kua
    Thai : Faeng
    Malaysia : Mao Kua ( Cantonese )
    Japanese : Heariimeron
    Description Hairy Gourd also known as Fuzzy Gourd is actually an oblong cylindrical, dumb-bell-shaped vegetable full of important nutrient, minerals and vitamins. It is used in numerous food recipes due to its delicate, almost bland taste.
    Plant Growth Habit Annual creeping vine with branched tendrils
    Growing Climate Prefers a temperate, warm climate
    Soil Organically rich,Fertile, medium moisture, well-drained loams
    Stem  Thick,coarse, prominently-furrowed, hairy stems
    Leaf Large, roughly-textured, 5-lobed leaves (4-10″ long)
    Flower Bright yellow, 6–12 cm across
    Fruit shape & size Oblong cylindrical, dumb-bell-shaped (narrow within the center), 15–23 cm long and 5–10 cm across with roundish end and enclosed with thick, bristle-like white trichomes on the surface
    Fruit color Green to dark green with pale green speckles and very much smaller and lighter than the wax gourd.
    Flavor/aroma Mild subtle flavor somewhat like a cucumber or summer squash
    Fruit Taste Delicate, almost bland taste
    Major Nutrition Vitamin C 69 mg (76.67%)
    Vitamin B1 0.07 mg (5.83%)
    Potassium 250 mg (5.32%)
    Total dietary Fiber 1.7 g (4.47%)
    Vitamin B2 0.05 mg (3.85%)
    Iron 0.3 mg (3.75%)
    Magnesium 15 mg (3.57%)
    Zinc 0.2 mg (1.82%)
    Carbohydrate 2 g (1.54%)
    Protein 0.7 g (1.40%)
    Health Benefits
    • Improves Physical Performance
    • Help Treat Certain Types of Disease
    • Immune System Health
    • Blood pressure and cardiovascular health
    • Steadies your blood-sugar level
    • Treatment of Cancer
    Calories in 1cup (100gm) 11
    Traditional Uses
    • In Ayurveda, Fruit is helpful for the management of a host of medical problems, including lung diseases, cough, epilepsy, asthma, internal hemorrhage and urine retention.
    • It is also an excellent medicine for tapeworms.
    How to Eat
    • Immature and mature but not ripe fruit is picked for cooking after peeling the skin.
    • Firm flesh is sliced and use in stews, soups, stir-fry on its own or with fish, meat or other vegetables.
    • The gourd is often made half, hollowed out and filled along with meat (pork or beef), mushrooms and shrimps then steamed in a pot or even fried.
    • Taiwanese recipe recommends shredding and frying with chilies.
    • Firm flesh of the mature fruit is candied with sugar and can be dried for future use.
    • Young shoots, flowers and leaves are sometimes consumed as vegetable as for wax gourd.
    • By frying or roasting, the seeds are prepared as a snack food.

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