Ridge Gourd
Ridge Gourd, also known as Turai, Luffa, or Sponge Gourd, is a green, elongated vegetable with distinct ridges running along its length. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family (same family as cucumbers and gourds). The vegetable has a soft, spongy texture with a mild taste, making it suitable for various culinary preparations.
Ridge gourd is highly popular in Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisines and is valued for its light, easily digestible nature. The immature fruit is eaten as a vegetable, while the mature dried fruit is used as a natural scrubber (loofah sponge).
It is also appreciated for its cooling effect on the body, high water content, and nutritional richness in dietary fiber, vitamins (A, C, B-complex), and minerals (iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc)

