Snake or Long melon cucumber (Gavthi Kakri)

Long Melon/ snake cucumber/ gavthi kakri, have you heard or seen them or maybe even tasted them? 

These long melons or gavthi kakri are available during the early summers. In a way, seeing them finally means summer is here for good.

Do you know, these cucumbers are rarely found in the markets? You will normally find vendors roaming with this on their cart.

Whenever I see the bhaji wala pushing his cart filled with snake cucumbers it always lights up my day. The vendors generally sell it on a per-piece basis. They wash it, sometimes peel the skin and then slit it into four ( lengthwise), then sprinkle some salt and chili or spice, and then hand it over to people to eat.

I understand the concern about using clean water for washing and serving it hygienically. But in all honesty, every time someone buys these for consumption these people are making healthier choices by opting for ingredients meant for the season rather than packaged food or deep-fried stuff.

About Snake Cucumbers/Gavthi Kakdi

Even though this long slender fruit looks, tastes, and is even called a cucumber it actually belongs to the muskmelon family. It also is related to cucumbers.

Scientific name

Cucumis melo var. flexuosus

Other names

 Armenian cucumber, Yard long cucumber, snake melon (English),

Tar, Kakri (Punjabi),

Kakri, Kakdi (Hindi)

Appearance

Long (30-36 inches), slender, hollow in the center, often curled, and ribbed. The skin is thin, light green, and wrinkled.

Taste & texture

It is crisp, mildly sweet never bitter. Looks and feels ( in terms of texture) very similar to cucumbers.

Culinary Usage

• Eat it raw with a dash of salt and chili powder.
• Used in making Chaats, chutney, and raita.
• Cucumber beverages.
• Sabji

Reference:

• https://agropedia.iitk.ac.in/content/cultivation-practices-long-melon
• https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/blogs/onmyplate/cool-as-a-cucumber/