Duck Meat with Ash Gourd (Hah Kumura Diya Mangxo)
A classic Assamese winter delicacy combining duck meat with sweet ash gourd, slow-cooked into a dark, deeply savoury curry.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 75 min
- Total
- 105 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Equipment
- •Heavy pot or handi
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- fat
- 21 g
- carbs
- 9 g
- fibre
- 2 g
- protein
- 24 g
- calories
- 320 kcal
Instructions
- 1
Coat the duck pieces with turmeric and salt. Leave them aside for 20 minutes.
- 2
Heat mustard oil in a heavy pot. Fry the duck pieces until browned and set them aside.
- 3
Add the bay leaf and sliced onions to the same oil. Fry until golden.
- 4
Add the ginger-garlic paste. Cook until the raw smell disappears.
- 5
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, chilli powder and cumin powder. Cook until the oil separates.
- 6
Put the duck pieces back into the pot. Add enough water to cover and bring to a boil.
- 7
Cover and simmer on low heat for 45–50 minutes. Cook until the duck is nearly tender.
- 8
Add the ash gourd cubes. Cook until the duck and gourd are fully tender and the gravy thickens.
- 9
Adjust the salt. Rest for a few minutes and serve hot with rice.
Chef's tips
Duck takes longer to tenderise than chicken, so patience with slow cooking is essential; a pressure cooker can shorten the time if needed. Add the ash gourd later so it does not break apart.
Ingredient substitutions
- ash gourd → pumpkin, though the flavour will be sweeter
Storage
Refrigerate for up to 2 days; flavour deepens overnight.
Reheating
Reheat on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of water if needed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Adding the ash gourd too early, causing it to turn mushy.
Serving suggestions
Cooked Duck Meat with Ash Gourd (Hah Kumura Diya Mangxo)?
Sign in to save this recipe to a collection. Bookmarking works without an account — it stays on this device.
Sign in for collectionsSimilar recipes
Dishes with the same spirit, spice level and course.
More from Assam
Cooking that shares the same kitchen and pantry.
Recipes using similar ingredients
Use what you already bought for this recipe.
