Get the latest Bottlegourd recipes from Group Recipes. http://www.grouprecipes.com/tag/bottlegourd The calabash/ bottlegourd , as a vegetable, is frequently used in southern Chinese cuisine as either a stir-fry or in a soup . The spinach is a great source of iron . It is thought to have originated in ancient Persia (Iran) and made its way to China in the 7th century when the king of Nepal sent it as a gift to this country . This dish goes well with any flavoured rice along with fried meat . http://www.grouprecipes.com/66722/calabash-red-spinach-chutney.html One of the calabash subspecies is known as the bottle gourd . This fresh fruit has a light green smooth skin and a white flesh . I got this recipe from Angie . http://www.grouprecipes.com/59086/bottlegourd-kofta.html