Stuffed Bitter Gourd Pan Fry !

Stuffed Karela / Bitter Gourd / Kakarakaya Fry… brings us a quick glimpse of Stuffing the bitter gourd with masala and tying it with thread or something so that masala don't spill out and then deep frying..Isn't it ? !! I appreciate the taste and efforts it takes but avoiding deep frying and lots of oil and all..try this way…you will sure like it …the lighter way of Stuffed Kakarakaya pan fry..all that you need is a flat bottomed shallow frying pan rather than concave bottomed frying pan…

Stuffed Bitter gourd fry

Ingredients :

Karela / Bitter Gourd / Kakarakaya - 3 to 4 small to medium sized 

Red Chilli Powder - 1 1/2 table spoon

Jeera / Cumin powder - 1 table spoon

Dhaniya / Coriander powder - 1 table spoon

Turmeric powder - 1 tea spoon

Oil - 4 to 5 table spoons

Water - 1/2 cup to 1 cup

Roasted peanuts - 2 table spoons

Dalia / Split roasted chickpea / chutney pappu - 2 table spoons

Dry coconut (grated) - 1 table spoon

Garlic cloves - 1 to 2

Curry Leaves - 4 to 5

Salt - As per the taste ( about 1 table spoon )

Preparation :

- Choose small to medium sized karela (depends on the pan size & use flat bottomed frying pan)

- Wash the karela & remove the stem and I usually don't peel off the skin but if you prefer peel off the skin.

Guthi kakarakaya fry

- In a pan add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of water and boil the karela covering with a lid, under slow to medium heat.

Stuffed kakarakaya fry

- Let the bitter gourd be boiled & meanwhile grind the masala.

Stuffed Karela fry 

- Roast the peanuts and grind them along with garlic cloves, grated dry coconut powder & split roasted chickpea (dalia).

Kakarakaya guthi fry

- In about 7 to 10 minutes the bitter gourd must had been boiled well. Turn off the heat and keep them aside.

Stuffed Bitter gourd fry

- Heat 3 tables spoons of oil in a pan and add the curry leaves and fry.

Guthi kakarakaya fry

- Slow down the heat and start adding, red chili powder, jeera powder, dhania powder, turmeric powder & ground masala powder to the pan and fry the stuffing masala on low heat without burning.

stuffed kakarakaya fry

- Fry the masala for 1 to 2 minutes and add the salt to the masala.

Stuffed karela fry

- Now the masala is ready, we have to stuff the bitter gourd with the masala.

Stuffed kakarakaya fry

- Carefully slit the boiled bitter gourd and start stuffing with the masala.

Stuffed kakarakaya fry

- Stuff all the bitter gourd with the masala.

- Heat the remaining oil in the pan and place all the stuffed bitter gourd in the pan.

Stuffed Bitter gourd fry

- Cook on the low to medium heat & after few minutes slowly turn the stuffed karela on to the other side but this is not a necessary step, because already masala is fried and bitter gourd is cooked.

Stuffed Bitter gourd fry

- After 5 minutes, the stuffed bitter gourd pan fry is ready !

Guthi Kakarakaya fry 

Bitter Gourd Fry !

Hagalakayi / Kakarakaya / Karela / Pakarakai / pavakka / Bitter gourd  or Bitter melon :-) whichever language & whatever you call it …The taste doesn't change..Yes, I mean it & I also know that many of you avoid Bitter Gourd, because of it's taste…If that is the case… try it once…Though, they taste bitter, they are a pack of antioxidants and essential vitamins.

Here I am rolling out the spicy recipe of Bitter Gourd fry…

Bitter Gourd fry

Ingredients :

Bitter Gourd / Karela - 3 ( long & medium sized )

Grated dry coconut - 3 table spoons

Garlic Cloves - 1 to 2

Jeera / Cumin seeds - 1 tea spoon

Dry Red Chilli - 2

Peanuts - 2 table spoons

Curry Leaves - 2 to 3

Red Chilli powder - 2 table spoons

Dhaniya / Coriander powder - 1/2 table spoon

Turmeric Powder - 1 tea spoon

Chopped coriander leaves - 2 table spoons

Sesame seeds powder - 1 tea spoon

Jaggery - 1 table spoon ( powdered / grated ) (OPTIONAL)

Oil - 1 table spoon

Salt - As per the taste.

Preparation :

- Slice the bitter gourd into round pieces.

- Add the turmeric powder & salt to the bitter gourd slices.

- Slightly crush and mix the salt & turmeric powder through the bitter gourd slices & keep them aside.

- Grind the Red chili powder, jeera, grated coconut & garlic cloves in a  blender (Don't add any water).

- Heat the oil in the pan & add peanuts , dry red chilli, curry leaves and fry for 1 minute.

- Add the bitter gourd slices to the pan & stir them once, through the seasoning.

- Cover the pan with a lid and let the bitter gourd pieces to cook for some time.

- Occasionally stir the slices, if it is too dry just sprinkle some water (not much), so that bitter gourd pieces won't burn.

- Once the slices are cooked ( you can observe shrinked & deep colored slices ), add coriander powder, ground coconut & red chili powder mix to the bitter gourd slices and stir once.

- Taste the fry & adjust the salt if needed.

- Cover the fry with the lid and let it cook under a low heat so that, it doesn't burn.

- If required sprinkle little water.

- Once you observe the fry is almost done ,  add the sesame seeds powder to the bitter gourd fry & stir once.

- BEFORE ADDING THE 'Sesame powder' , if you prefer the bitter gourd fry to be sweetened, add the jaggery to the fry at this point, stir once & then add the sesame seeds powder.

- We prefer to eat spicy bitter gourd fry , so I didn't add the jaggery.

- Let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes and turn off the heat & add the chopped coriander leaves.

That is all, Bitter Gourd fry is ready ….Those who don't like to eat bitter gourd..try to add Bitter gourd to your veggie pallet for enormous health benefits !