Kantola / spine gourd, the small spiny vegetable is one of the lesser-known members of the gourd family which is available for a very short duration throughout the year.

Scientific Name

Momordica dioica

Other local names

• Teasel gourd (English),
• Karkotaki (Sanskrit),
• Kantholi/Kartoli (Marathi),
• Kantola (Hindi),
• Bara karela ( Rajasthani,
• Bhat Korola/ kakrol (Bengali)

Appearance, texture, and taste

Kantola / Spine gourd comes from the gourd family. It looks like a mini bitter gourd but isn’t bitter.

It comes in 2 sizes- larger golf bowl size ones and small ones which were about the size of a lemon i.e. around 2-4 cm in length. Each of these has a slightly different taste profile. The smaller ones happen to be more flavourful than the larger ones.

They have a spiny surface. The colour is usually green, shades change to greenish yellow or yellow as it ripens. It has a distinct taste of its own.

Availability

Kantoli/Spine gourd though not a native of India is grown in many different parts of India. It is mainly available during the late summer to monsoons.

Purchasing and storing

Preferably buy green but even the greenish-yellow ones can be used.

They can easily be stored in the fridge for over a week.

How to clean a Kantola?

• Wash the surface clean.
• Remove the stem.
• Cut into slices, pieces, or rings.

Nutrition facts

Kantolas have carbohydrates, proteins, fat, fibre, and nutrients like vitamin C, some B vitamins, phytonutrients, flavonoids, and antioxidants.

They also are low in calories, and great for the gut and overall health. They also improve vision and help regulate blood sugars

Culinary Uses

Though there are many dishes one can make using Kantola. Some of the dishes known to me include:

• Pakodas
• Stuffed spine gourd
• Gravy
• Dry vegetable.

Also, read about the other lesser-known vegetables which are locally grown on the blog – Phodshi, Takla, Breadfruit, Dragon Stalk yam, and  Carambola. 

References                                                                  

• http://www.kiran.nic.in/pdf/Agri-Kaleidoscope/Horticulture-resources/SPINE%20GOURD.pdf
• https://www.ishs.org/ishs-article/752_82
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282438692_Spine_gourd_Momordica_dioica_An_underutilized_vegetable_with_high_nutritional_and_medicinal_values
• http://www.ijpab.com/form/2017%20Volume%205,%20issue%204/IJPAB-2017-5-4-1440-1443.pdf