Gourds

I have a passionate devotion to this group of veg, of which there is such wondrous variety in summer and autumn. Grown on rubbish heaps in India, they are widely available – the ultimate humble veg, yet so royally sweet and generous. The luxurious flesh of pumpkins and squashes quickly takes on spicy flavours, as do courgettes/zucchini, which grow so abundantly. Cucumbers, also in this group, bring essential freshness and lightness to Indian meals, in salads or raitas.