Doi-patol

The second great summer vegetable, patol, tends to drive most Bengalis into ecstasy. The eyes of a beautiful Bengali woman are often compared to halved patols. A small oval gourd, some 10-15 cm (4-6 in) long, fat in the middle and tapering at both ends, with dark green peel striped longitudinally in a lighter shade of green and creamy firm flesh inside, it is much firmer and less watery than the lau. The riper the patol, the harder its seeds, something the true aficionado loves. Excellent f