Snake-gourd in Malayalam
Snake gourd is പടവലം (padavalam), one of the staples of a Kerala kitchen garden and of the vegetable curry known as thoran. The name covers both the long fruit and the plant. Four syllables, all light.
Most common translation
Snake-gourd plant.
പന്തലിൽ പടവലം നിറയെ കായ്ച്ചു.
panthalil padavalam niraye kaaychu.
The snake gourd bore plenty on the trellis.
Dictionary entry
- പടവലം (padavalam) — Snake-gourd plant.
The entry defines it as the plant, but in the market the same word is what you ask for when you want the vegetable itself.
Common questions
How do you say snake gourd in Malayalam?
പടവലം (padavalam), used for both the vine and the vegetable.
Is it common in Kerala cooking?
Very. It goes into everyday stir-fries, curries with lentils and pachadi with yoghurt.