Snakegourd Seed Pancake (" Poddale Biye Sannapolo")

“Poddale Biye Sanna Polo” in Konkani language literary means Snake-gourd seed Pancake. This pancake is unique to our Konkani or GSB community.

Generally the seed and the pulp inside the snake gourd are discarded. But if the seeds are tender, then both the seed and the pulp can be used to make this tasty pancake.

The tenderness of the seeds can be tested as follows: Hold one of the seeds in between your index finger and thumb and apply pressure on the seed with your thumb. If it gets crushed, then it is tender but if it jumps out of your fingers then discard it!!

Ingredients:

Snake Gourd seeds (tender) + pulp	About 1 cup
Rice Flour	2 tbsps
Gram Flour	2 tbsps
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Red Chilly Powder	1 tsp or as per taste
Asafoetida	¼ tsp
Salt	As per taste
Water	½ cup

Method:

• Mash the snake gourd seeds & pulp. (If you have a food processor, you can put this in and run it for a second – it will give a better result. Remove it in a bowl.
• To this add turmeric powder, red chilly powder, salt and asafoetida. Mix well.
• Then add the gram flour and rice flour and make sure that no lumps are formed.
• Add a little water if necessary. Do not make it watery.
• Heat a tawa/frying pan. Smear a little oil on it. Spread the batter with a ladle on the frying pan (3 or 4 pancake/polo at a time depending upon the size of your tawa/frying pan) each about 5” in diameter.
• Fry it as you fry any pancake or polo – overturning it on the other side too till dark brown spots appear.
• Serve Hot.

Makes about 4-5 pancakes or polo

Variation:

Another variation of this pancake or polo is, to substitute red chilly powder and asafoetida with chopped green chilies, onion and coriander leaves. Rest of the method is the same.

Note:

This pancake or polo is served as a side dish during lunch.

For info on Snake gourd :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichosanthes_cucumerina

Watch out for my next recipe on snake gourd.