Greetings everyone! This Mohammad Sumon! from #Bangladesh

^{Hello everyone! I hope you all are doing well by the grace of the Almighty.}

Today, I am very excited to share my entry for the Contest organized by the
Story On Steem community. A special thanks to the community admin & moderator @rauja Apu, for hosting such an engaging competition.

^{Spreading positivity and creativity through my words.}

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Weekly Recipe Challenge

Finding time to prepare a nutritious and delicious meal for the family with one's own hands brings in my view a unique sense of peace after the daily work hustle. Especially after long working hours, if there is a light, home-cooked dish on the dining table, all the fatigue of the day seems to evaporate in an instant. I believe simple, home-cooked meals offer true satisfaction. Therefore, today I am going to share one of my favorite recipes with you all—Rui Fish Curry with Tender Bottle Gourd.

This wonderful combination of fish and vegetables not only satisfies our taste buds but is also extremely beneficial and light for the body. In my opinion, utilizing technology to cook quick yet delicious meals in this fast-paced life is a smart choice. Hence, to prepare today’s meal differently and in less time, I cooked it using my home electric pressure cooker. Let’s dive in and see how easily this dish can be made.

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Healthy Rui Fish Curry with Bottle Gourd

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^{Cover: Delicious Rui fish curry with bottle gourd served in a bowl}

Personal Story, Gas Shortage & Grocery Shopping Experience

I am a private service holder by profession. Leaving for the office every morning and dealing with tiredness at night means I rarely get the opportunity to go grocery shopping daily. Therefore, shopping for the whole month at once on weekends has become a long-standing habit of mine. Earlier this month, I bought a fresh Rui fish weighing nearly 2 kg at the rate of 380 BDT per kg from the local (Manikdi) market. I carefully cut, cleaned, and stored that large fish in the freezer so it could be cooked quickly on busy days.

Currently, severe shortages of piped gas have made everyday cooking quite challenging for households like ours. Amidst the uncertainty of when gas will be available, my primary reliance is now on my electric pressure cooker and gas cylinder. Alhamdulillah, my electric cooker is providing exceptional service during these tough times. It feels to me like a great relief, making cooking much easier despite the adverse conditions. Thus, I prepared this entire Rui fish recipe with bottle gourd inside the pressure cooker.

Prepare Recipe

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Ingredients & Quantity

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Organizing all ingredients neatly before starting to cook is something I personally love to do, as it speeds up the cooking process. Below is the list of required ingredients and cost calculations:

Necessary Ingredients	Quantity	Bangladeshi Price (BDT)	STEEM Price
Rui Fish (380 BDT/kg)	1 Head & 5 Pieces (~500g)	190 BDT	27.94 STEEM
Tender Bottle Gourd	1/2 Medium	40 BDT	5.88 STEEM
Chopped Onion	1 Bowl	15 BDT	2.21 STEEM
Ginger-Garlic/Cumin Paste	1 Bowl	10 BDT	1.47 STEEM
Turmeric, Chili Powder & Salt	To taste (1 Plate)	10 BDT	1.47 STEEM
Coriander Leaves	1 Bowl	10 BDT	1.47 STEEM
Mustard / Soybean Oil	For cooking	15 BDT	2.21 STEEM
Total Estimated Cost	—	290 BDT	~ 42.65 STEEM

^{Conversion rates used: 1 STEEM equals 6.80 BDT.}

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Cooking Process:

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Step 1: Washing and Cleaning Fish & Vegetables

First, I thoroughly washed the cut pieces and head of the Rui fish and placed them in a red plastic colander to drain the water. At the same time, I sliced the bottle gourd into neat, medium-thin pieces and washed them in an aluminum bowl filled with water.

Step 2: Prepping Spices & Ingredients

For cooking convenience, I set aside chopped onions, ginger-cumin paste, and freshly chopped coriander leaves in separate bowls. On another plate, I measured out the required amounts of turmeric powder, red chili powder, and salt.

Step 3: Marinating & Frying the Fish

In a large container, I marinated the washed fish head and pieces thoroughly with an adequate amount of turmeric powder and salt. Then, using a small amount of oil, I fried the pieces until lightly golden and set them aside in a steel bowl.

Step 4: Sauteing Onions & Spices in the Pressure Cooker

Due to the gas shortage, I turned on my trusted electric pressure cooker to Saute mode and heated a small amount of oil in the pot. Once hot, I added the chopped onions and stirred until lightly golden. Then, I added the ginger-cumin paste, turmeric, chili powder, and salt, along with a little water, and sauteed the spices thoroughly.

Step 5: Locking the Cooker & Adding Bottle Gourd

After sauteing the spices, I added enough water for the gravy. Once it came to a boil, I locked the cooker lid to let it steam cook. After a short while, I opened the lid and added the cut bottle gourd pieces into the gravy, stirring well to combine with the spices.

Step 6: Final Cooking with Fish & Coriander Leaves

Once the bottle gourd was partially cooked and the gravy began boiling, I added the pre-fried Rui fish head and pieces into the cooker. After everything simmered together nicely, I sprinkled freshly chopped coriander leaves over the top before turning off the cooker.

Step 7: Final Plating & Serving

^{Steaming hot Rui fish curry cooked with tender bottle gourd}

Once done, I poured the steaming hot bottle gourd and fish curry into a beautifully patterned ceramic bowl. In my opinion, good presentation enhances the enjoyment of food, so I arranged the bowl neatly on a colorful crocheted mat for serving.

^{Final dish presented with contest verification tag}

Health Benefits

In my opinion, food shouldn't just taste good; we must also consider how beneficial it is for our body. Here are some key nutritional benefits of this light Rui fish curry with bottle gourd:

• Keeps the Body Refreshed & Hydrated: Bottle gourd consists of nearly 96% water. I believe there is no better alternative than bottle gourd to maintain the body's fluid balance and keep blood pressure normal during hot or tiring days.

• Easy to Digest: It is an exceptionally light dish. The natural fiber in bottle gourd and the protein in Rui fish are easily digestible, keeping the digestive system calm and reducing acidity.

• Heart Care: The omega-3 fatty acids found in Rui fish help reduce harmful cholesterol in the blood, making it, in my view, one of the best natural ways to maintain heart health.

• Weight Management & Skin Care: Being low in calories, this meal is great for weight control, while the essential vitamins and zinc in the fish help maintain healthy skin and hair roots.

^{Holding my homemade Rui fish curry with verification details}

Details	Information
Location	Dhaka, Bangladesh
Date of Preparation	September 14, 2026
Food Category	Traditional Bangladeshi (Main Dish)
Preparation Time	25 - 30 minutes
Main Ingredient	Rui Fish & Bottle Gourd
Cooking Chef	@sumon247
Device	Samsung Galaxy A04

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Conclusion

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In my opinion, stepping away from the daily hustle to lovingly cook such a healthy and refreshing meal for the family brings immense joy. This light Rui fish curry with tender bottle gourd is not only delicious but also perfectly satisfies our daily nutritional needs. To me, utilizing modern technology to make cooking effortless and enjoyable despite everyday challenges has been a deeply rewarding experience. 😊

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I would like to invite @suboohi, @tammanna, and @mini80 to participate in this contest. Hope to see your wonderful entries! 🙂

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If you enjoyed my post, feel free to upvote, comment, and share your thoughts. Your support keeps me motivated!

Thank you very much ❤️

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