Bottle gourd

Simmered in a light broth it takes on savour it has none of by itself.

Stuffed or simmered with shellfish stock, the gourd is a sponge for whatever it cooks in.

Warm root is what a nearly flavourless vegetable actually needs to taste like anything.

Sulfur and fat are the difference between a bland stir-fry and a forgettable one.

Curried in coconut milk, South India treats the gourd exactly like a blank canvas for spice.

Umami stock built from almost nothing else, since the vegetable offers none itself.

Warmth is the only thing standing between the gourd and total blandness.

Popped in hot oil, South India seasons the water the vegetable is mostly made of.

Aged salt umami on a vegetable that has never tasted of anything on its own, an odd but functional fix.