Are these wild cucumbers?

Dear forum,

While I was out yesterday, our lovely neighbour a Bengali lady dropped by and gave my 8-year-old son a bag of spiky green pods. I went to her house this morning just to find out what they were but she wasn't there. I then searched on Google and the result showed as wild cucumbers. Does anyone know what they are? Are they edible?







Many thanks in advance.
Loog

They are Achocha/Caigua AKA 'Fat Babies' 

http://www.appalachianfeet.com/2010/12/13/how-to-grow-and-use-achochacaigua-a-problem-free-cucumber-substitute-wrecipes/

Thanks a lot mumofstig. You have solved our day-long veggie mystery. Love the name too "fat babies".

Loog

I am sure we would all like to know how your kind neighbour uses them. Please ask her and report back.

The similarity to "weed" makes it very tempting to grow a few on my allotment.

The similarity to "weed" makes it very tempting to grow a few on my allotment.

I'd warn you off 'a few' unless you want buckets of them    You only need 1 plant or 2 at the most, as they are amazingly prolific. 

I pick them smaller, before the seeds have started to really form and go hard.  I prefer the flavour then and they don't take ages to prepare as you can eat the lot.   

They are good in curries.  I've used them in Thai green curry and as an okra substitute in a bhaji recipe.  They soak up spices well