Snake Gourd

About Snake Gourd

Snake gourd, known as “pathola” in Sinhala, is a striking vegetable that can grow up to a metre in length, with a slender, twisted form that gives it its common English name. Cultivated in the hill country around the Kandy District, where the moderate altitude and ample rainfall create perfect growing conditions, Sri Lankan snake gourd has a pale green skin with white stripes and a soft, spongy interior flesh. When harvested young, the vegetable has a delicate, mildly sweet flavour reminiscent of cucumber with subtle bitter undertones. It is one of the most gentle and easily digestible vegetables in Sri Lankan cuisine, often recommended in Ayurvedic diets.

Culinary Uses

Sri Lankan cooks prize pathola for its ability to absorb the flavours of spices and coconut milk. “Pathola curry” is a light, fragrant dish where the gourd is simmered in a thin coconut gravy with green chilies, curry leaves, and a touch of turmeric. It is also commonly prepared as “pathola mallung,” a dry preparation where finely chopped snake gourd is cooked down with scraped coconut, onion, and Maldive fish flakes. In more elaborate meals, snake gourd is stuffed with a spiced fish or prawn filling and braised until tender. The vegetable is often included in the “Sri Lankan rice and curry” spread as one of several vegetable side dishes.

Japanese home cooks can incorporate snake gourd into everyday meals in several ways. Its mild flavour and tender texture make it an excellent addition to miso soup, where it absorbs the umami-rich broth beautifully. Thinly sliced snake gourd works well in itame-mono (stir-fry) dishes with pork or shrimp, seasoned with soy sauce and a splash of sake. It can also be lightly pickled in a sweet vinegar brine as an asazuke (quick pickle) to serve alongside grilled fish. For a fusion approach, try adding snake gourd to yakisoba or using it as a mild, hydrating ingredient in chilled summer noodle dishes.

Nutritional Benefits

Snake gourd is exceptionally low in calories while being rich in dietary fibre, making it ideal for weight management. It provides notable amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, and several B vitamins. The vegetable has a high water content that supports hydration, and in traditional Ayurvedic medicine it is valued for its cooling properties and its ability to support healthy digestion. Snake gourd also contains triterpenoids and flavonoids that have shown anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties in research studies.