I am going to blog about a vegetable that's my hubby's most favorite. And of course, something I keep my distance from! I try quite hard. It's a real wonder how this particular dish never got featured as the pictures are quite old. Until my marriage, I never bothered to ever taste this dish the innumerable times that Amma must've prepared it. I was thinking I will eat it later and later, maybe never in this lifetime!
Imagine my utter shock on knowing that this is hubby dear's favorite vegetable. It was too shocking, can anybody actually like this vegetable. One that's too bitter, do what you may but can never remove that bitterness from it! But it looked like I was against a wall. I had to cook this at least once, if not many times in a week, something with this vegetable. So it's always some stir fry or dry curry or at sometimes kura is what we come up with. This kura is quite popular in Andhra.
If you like Spice Powders, then this Kakarakaya Karam Podi is an excellent to make.
Bitter Gourd is also known as Bitter Melon. It's considered to be very healthy and especially for diabetics. In our local, most people also advise drinking its raw juice to control Diabetics. But apart from its medicinal value, hubby dear simply loves it. This gravy or Kura is the best way he enjoys.
Ingredients Needed:
Kakara Kaya - 100 gms
Onion - 1 big
Tomato - 2 medium
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch
Ginger garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Clove - 1
Cinnamon - 1 inch
Groundnut powder - 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Method to prepare:
Grate the outer skin of the bitter gourd and chop into thin circles. Dry roast them on a pan. If you have a granite kitchen slab, drop the toasted gourds on the ground, this is normally done to remove the bitterness. Then soak in saltwater for 5 - 10 mins. This is to remove the excess bitterness in the gourds.
Heat a pan with oil. Sauté the chopped onions till they turn pink. Then add the clove, cinnamon, then after a min, add ginger garlic paste. Fry for 2 mins, till the onions are brown on tips.
Then add the chopped tomatoes and dry spices powders and salt. Let it get cooked well. Squeeze out the excess water from Bitter gourd and add to the pan. Cook on high flame for 2 mins. Then add 1/2 cup water. Bring to boil.
Then simmer and cook with lid for about 10 - 15 mins. When you think it's thick enough, add the groundnut powder. Mix well and cook for 2 - 5 mins.
This goes very well with rice or Chapatis too.
RecipeGirl says
I love to learn about vegetables of which I have absolutely zero knowledge- this is one of them. Thanks for choosing a veggie completely out of the ordinary! (or thank you hubby!)
Sukanya Ramkumar says
Hi....
This is a healthy recipe. Looks so good. I don't' like bitter gourd a much.....But I think have to try ur recipe once. Love the idea of adding peanut powder, BTW... Does it do something with the bitterness.
JZ @ Tasty treats says
great job srivalli! atleast u were brave enough to embrace it...its my father-in-laws favourite too but thankfully that hasnt rubbed onto his son (my hus ;-))!!! 🙂
kamala says
My husband's fav too.I make only dry curry.Looks yummy Valli
Uma says
delicious kakarakaya koora. My most fav.
Kalai says
I love this vegetable, too, Valli!! Am bookmarking this. 🙂
Cham says
I love the bitter taste! Never added ground peanut , next time i shall 🙂
Happy cook says
I fully agree with you, i dislike this veggie with a pure passion, i remember the my mom used to make them and almost force us to eat it saying it is so healthy ect....
The only time i tolerate bitter gourd is when they fry it. You know they dry it after mixing with curd and then deep fry them.
That i don't mind.
indosungod says
Looks so good Valli, I have to make it but waiting for some bitter gourds to appear in my plant. I started liking this vegetable for the simple reason that I eagerly devoured anything made with tamarind.
I do see you have not added tamarind just tomatoes.
Swati Raman Garg says
i hate this veggie except when amma used to make a bitterless fry out of it.... since then have left having it...but u add good colors to ur curries rite... u r amazing sri... i have another entry today for the mela 🙂 me happy...
Sig says
How can anyone NOT like this vegetable??? Bittergourd is my absoulte favorite veggie.... If I have to pick one vegetable with me to a deserted island this would be it... If I could marry it, I would... Okay, I will stop now, you get the drift -I LOVE IT... 😀 This is a great bittergourd recipe...
bhags says
It was my mom who forcefully made to eat this dish n number of times ..... and then whereever i lived after that everyone hated it.....
maybelles parents says
I love bitter gourd adn this sounds wonderful.
Purnima says
Sri, thks for sharing this, I too started having karela after marriage, developed a liking as well, now both my kids love the sun-dried karela fries and sometimes a dinner dish is finished off if this is an accompaniment! 😀
Swati: Sugarcraft India says
Srivalli, I am not too fond of bitter gourd but your version is now tempting me!!
Kalyn says
I've never tasted this vegetable, but I like bitter tastes so I'd love to try it.
Jude says
We also used to soak the bitter melons before using it. I hope to find some soon so I can try your recipe.
Srikanth1761 says
Elderly/wise people say that, people with less intelligence usually don't like bitter gourd. You see this trend usually in females. I love this vege..
Archana says
bookmarked