Due to its intense bitterness, bitter gourd, also known as Karela in India, is one of the vegetables that receives little attention worldwide. Given that it is a member of the gourd family, which also includes cucumber, squash, pumpkin, and zucchini, this vegetable is also frequently referred to as bitter melon. It is extremely underutilized and is widely available in India.
Despite how bitter it may be, bitter gourds, also known as karela, are believed to decrease cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels. Many individuals dislike preparing this vegetable at home due to its bitterness. You won’t remember this vegetable’s bitterness after trying these delectable dishes, though, and you’ll continue to prepare it at home. So, what do you want to know? Go
Khatta Meetha Karela
Wash and remove the seeds from 4 bitter gourds before making this sweet and sour dish. Apply 2-3 tbsp of salt and slice them into rounds. Toss everything thoroughly to coat. This is done to make a bitter gourd less bitter. After setting aside for two to three hours, wash and dry the karela. Start the preparation the night before if you want to cook right away. Now, prepare the tempering by sautéing one teaspoon each of cumin, mustard, curry leaves, and three to four green chilies in a little oil. Add 1 tbsp of each ginger-garlic paste, 1 tsp of coriander powder, 12 tsp of red chili powder, 12 tsp of turmeric, and 1 tbsp of raw mango powder when finished.
Add a little water after thoroughly combining all the masala. After thoroughly combining all the ingredients, add the dried karela to the pan. Mix well after adding 2 tablespoons of tamarind paste and salt to taste. After cooking for 2–3 minutes, stir in 2 tablespoons of jaggery powder. Mix thoroughly, then heat for an additional 2 minutes. then extinguish the flame, and revel in it!
Dahi karela
Another intriguing dish that you may create at home is this one. Use the same process as in khatta meetha karela to create it. Clean, scrape, and slice into rounds. After applying salt all over, wait a while. Now heat four to six tablespoons of vegetable oil in a pan. Shallow cook the bitter gourd after adding it. Put it over the paper towel to absorb the excess oil after it has been cooked. Now heat some oil in a skillet and add tomato and one onion to it to sauté. Add salt, coriander powder, turmeric, garam masala powder, and a tiny bit of red chili powder to the mixture after that.
Add to the pan and stir in the fried karela. Cook for around 10 minutes with a lid on. Enjoy with chapati or paratha after finished.
Karela chips
You’ll need to wash and dry 250 grams of karela to make these chips. After that, chop it into rounds and remove the seeds. Soak these pieces in saltwater-laced water for at least five minutes to lessen the bitterness. After straining, give the details a quick rinse under running water.
Next, combine 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, turmeric, red chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon each of coriander, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt in a bowl. Add the bitter gourd bits after thoroughly blending. After thoroughly coating them, cover them with a lid and wait five minutes. Mix 50 grams of each rice flour and maize flour in a separate dish or basin. Add bitter gourd pieces to the flour mixture once it has been well combined.
Bitter Guard stir fry
It is a common South Indian side dish that takes about 30 minutes to prepare. Three to four huge bitter gourds, sliced into thick slices, and their seeds removed are all that are required.
These slices should be salted with 1 teaspoon, mixed thoroughly, and let to rest for 20 to 30 minutes. The parts should then be washed in cold water. Now heat 1-2 tbsp of mustard oil in a kadhai over medium temperature. Add 1 tsp of chana dal, 1 tsp of urad dal, 1 tsp of mustard seeds, a few curry leaves, 2 pinches of asafoetida, and 2 dried red chilies to the pan after the oil is heated enough. Add the dried bitter gourd to the pan after one minute of sautéing. Mix thoroughly.
Stuffed karela
You may prepare this delectable recipe with bitter gourd as well. You may load this dish with potato, paneer, processed cheese, or even bitter gourd skins. Here is a recipe for cheese-stuffed bitter gourds that won’t need you to put in a lot of effort. 2 cups of water, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, and a little salt should be added to a big pan.
Combine and bring to a boil. Wash and chop in half three to four bitter gourds. Drain the water after boiling them for 5-7 minutes. Deseed the karela when they have cooled off. In the meantime, combine some red chili powder, salt, turmeric, and chaat masala with the cottage cheese and processed cheese to produce the filling.
