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    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Kasara Kaya Vepudu

    Kasara Kaya Vepudu

    Published: May 20, 2008 · Modified: Sep 23, 2020 by Srivalli · 29 Comments

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    Kasara Kaya Vepudu is a dry saute made with Kasaya Kaya, a vegetable that is diabetic friendly and belonging to the Bitter gourd family.

    I haven't seen this vegetable in Madras, having come to know about it from Athamma who said that this is available during season in her place. And the whole family loves it. This vegetable is called Athalakkaai or Adhalakkai in Tamil, karchikai in Kannada, and Kakrol in Hindi. The scientific name is Momodica cymbalaria, and Other names - Luffa tubersosa (Roxb.) or Momordica Tuberosa (Roxb.). All thanks to PJ for researching the other names.

    This recipe was blogged in the initial years and I finally came to click new pictures recently when my SIL visited us for Deepavali and got it for us.  I had only tasted it once since I am not fond of bitter gourd, I am yet to get used to this taste, while both Athamma and Hubby Dear were so happy.

    -updated 26th January 2019

    Life at times can be a real case of irony! What else can I say about my current situation! Just when I am needed to blog on recipes every day, I am finding myself without anything on hand. As I said, my camera has given up on me. The flash has gone for a toss and so I can't take any shots in the night, which is when I prepare something new! The camcorder doesn't have a flash and so can't take night shots again!

    One fine morning, the camera was all foggy after a night out in a chilled AC room. My kids, I have seen, sleep only if the AC is at a particular temperature. Even a point lower and you will see them waddling away in the dark. So this particular night, somehow it got too chilly and the lens got foggy. Though it was clear by the evening, the flash stopped working. I may have to get a new one.

    Until I get my camera back in action, I might have to ransack my draft for pending recipes. So till then, you might see some unrelated recipes coming out daily! What else can be so unrelated, than this stir fry on Kasara Kaya, a native of Ananthapuram District in Andhra! In fact, I did a guess on this vegetable and not many knew what it was. I am still not sure of the English name for it.

    This is something that my in-laws love and my father-in-law gets these for Athamma. Everybody sat around and cleaned the vegetable and cooked much to their merry! It tastes most like bitter gourd and if you are a fan of bitter gourd, you might like this. Though I am not. I clicked these for sheer need to record!

    Kasara Kaya Vepudu PIN This for Later!

    How to make Kasara Kaya Vepudu Step By Step Pictures for making Kasaraya Kaya Vepudu How to make Kasara Kaya Vepudu 1 How to make Kasara Kaya Vepudu 2

    Kasara Kaya Vepudu

    How to make Kasara Kaya Vepudu

    The vegetable looks as shown in the picture. You need to remove the tips. They actually come off if you break them. Since these are small in size, it takes a while to clean all of them.

    Once you remove the stocks, clean them in running water and chop the onions.

    Heat a nonstick pan. Add oil, then temper with cumin seeds, mustard, and urad dal. Then sauté onions and garlic till it's pink. To this add the washed kasara kaya.

    Add salt and turmeric. Simmer for 10 mins. Cover it and check after 10 mins. Stir and add chili powder. Combine everything well and cook for another 10 mins. We know the vegetables are cooked when the vegetables turn from a green colour to brown or black.

    When the vegetable is done, garnish it with a powder made with coconut and garlic. You can even add the fried gram powder. We don't add coriander powder. This goes well with dal and rice.

    Athalakkaai Curry
    Kasara Kaya Vepudu
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    4.34 from 3 votes

    Kasara Kaya Vepudu

    Kasara Kaya Vepudu is a dry saute made with Kasaya Kaya, a vegetable that is diabetic friendly and belonging to the Bitter gourd family.
    Course Main Dish - Dry Sautes
    Cuisine Andhra Pradesh
    Keyword Diabetic Friendly Recipe
    By Cook Method Stovetop
    Occasion Everyday Meal
    By Diet Diabetic, Healthy Recipes
    Dish Type Dry Side Dishes
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings 4 people
    Author Srivalli

    Ingredients

    • 250 gms Kasara Kaya
    • 2 tsp Cooking Oil
    • 1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
    • 1/4 tsp Urad Dal
    • 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
    • 1 medium Onions
    • 3 pods Garlic
    • Salt to taste
    • A Pinch Turmeric Powder
    • 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
    • 1 tsp Coconut grated
    • 1 tsp Fried Gram

    Instructions

    How to make Kasara Kaya Vepudu

    • The vegetable looks as shown in the picture. You need to remove the tips. They actually come off if you break them. Since these are small in size, its takes a while to clean all of them.
    • Once the stocks are removed, clean in running water and chop the onions.
    • Heat a nonstick pan. Add cooking oil, then temper with cumin seeds, mustard and urad dal. Then, sauté onions till its pink. To this, add the washed kasara kaya.
    • Add salt and turmeric powder. Simmer for 10 mins. Cover it and check after 10 mins. Stir and add red chilli powder. Mix well. and let it get cooked for another 10 mins. You know it's cooked by seeing the green colour turning brown or black.
    • Once it's cooked, garnish it with a powder made with coconut and garlic. You can even add the fried gram powder. We don't add coriander powder. This goes well with dal and rice.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cooking4all or tag #cooking4all!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Siri says

      May 20, 2008 at 11:58 am

      Gosh! I am so sorry about ur camera Srivalli. and u know what, being an andhraite, I never ate or even heard about Kasara kaaya..:(. the veggie looks so different!

      Siri

      Reply
    2. Swati Raman Garg says

      May 20, 2008 at 12:24 pm

      ohoo bad haan .. i ha ve an ok types cam but now its too precious to me... i have never seen this veggie... how does it taste,.. and similarity to some veggie..?

      Reply
    3. kamala says

      May 20, 2008 at 1:03 pm

      We say athalakkai in tamil.Though it is bitter we like this.We make Pulikuzhambu with this.Miss Athalakkai here valli.Thanks for showing the veggie!!

      Reply
    4. Trupti says

      May 20, 2008 at 1:18 pm

      this recipe & veggie is new to me thanks for sharing .
      hey srivalli check my blog there is surprise for you

      Reply
    5. ranji says

      May 20, 2008 at 1:54 pm

      hey i have had this vegetable long time back.Just ones though so dont remember the taste but i remember liking it:)...And so sorry to hear abt ur cam srivalli..

      Reply
    6. Sangeeth says

      May 20, 2008 at 3:15 pm

      OMG! I am sorry abt ur camera....ur recipe is so diff..i have never heard of this recipe...hopw it comes out well wjen I try it 😉

      Reply
    7. Sukanya Ramkumar says

      May 20, 2008 at 3:53 pm

      Hi....
      This is a very different recipe. Looks great. Never heard abt Kasara kaya. Sorry abt ur cam......

      Reply
    8. Uma says

      May 20, 2008 at 4:11 pm

      Nenu kooda eppudu ee kasarakaya gurinchi vinaledu Srivalli! Koora looks interesting. Sorry about your camera! I know it's so important for food photos. I am also planning to buy a new camera (actually my hubby said he is going to present me for our marriage anni)! I am looking for Cannon or Olympus.

      Reply
    9. Cham says

      May 20, 2008 at 4:14 pm

      Oh, so sad the camera stopped working at this time. Is this small variety of Bitter gourd? In TN we get round one also and little oblong shape like this pict.. But i am not sure, i would love to taste right away ur dish.

      Reply
    10. Meera says

      May 20, 2008 at 7:49 pm

      Sorry to hear about your camera, dear! This vegetable looks different. First, I thought it is parwar - which kind of looks like tindora. But I think, it's different. Thanks for sharing a new recipe & vegetable.

      Reply
    11. bhags says

      May 20, 2008 at 11:31 pm

      Well i had no idea bout you being from Andhra. I am sure Mr Kanth will be elated to know this, though. Sorry bout ur camera, I can understand how it feels without it, have been in this condition before. But Kasara kaya fry is not an unrelated post, it does educates ignorants like me about the new veggies

      Reply
    12. Divya Vikram says

      May 21, 2008 at 12:19 am

      think its athalakkai..nice recipe on the run

      Reply
    13. sowmya says

      May 21, 2008 at 12:19 am

      sounds good ...would love to try it...

      Reply
    14. Asha says

      May 20, 2008 at 6:58 pm

      Never seen this veggie Sri, good that you are showing us, new thing to learn! Hope your camera gets better soon. I sprained my left Index finger today, in bandage now, typing with one finger!:D
      Just came here to say I have added your mela link to dal roti at Aroma. Could you take the URL and that photo yourself please! Have to get off lappy now, finger is throbbing.See you tomorrow!:)

      Reply
    15. Siri says

      May 21, 2008 at 4:38 am

      U have a little small little surprise on my blog Srii.

      Siri

      Reply
    16. Sunshinemom says

      May 21, 2008 at 4:42 am

      Oh oh... camera ne saath nahi diya? Sorry about that! I have seen this vegetable at M aunty's house. I don't know what they do with it though.

      Reply
    17. satya says

      May 21, 2008 at 9:34 am

      Kasara kayalu looking so cute......the name suggests that it's a sibling of bitter gourd...:D

      Reply
    18. Purnima says

      May 21, 2008 at 11:26 am

      Sri, Thats new veggi to me! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    19. Suganya says

      May 23, 2008 at 5:27 am

      I have never seen this veggie, Sri. Kamala says it is Athalakkai; doesn't ring a bell.

      Reply
    20. Anonymous says

      October 15, 2009 at 4:54 am

      Kasara Kaya is also called Adavi Kakara and scientific name is Momordica tuberosa. I gathered this information by googling. I love this curry. -Sushma

      Reply
    21. Anonymous says

      July 04, 2016 at 6:06 am

      This is very nice Royalaseema recipe. we can eat with Roti (made with Jowar, Rice), Chapathi. it is healthy seasonal recipe.
      if you get chance, try it.........

      Reply
    22. Srivalli says

      July 04, 2016 at 6:58 am

      Thanks for the suggestions

      Reply
    23. Varada says

      January 26, 2019 at 9:44 pm

      Very interesting vegetable. The preparation is so different from anything I make. It looks nice and crispy.

      Reply
    24. usha says

      January 28, 2019 at 8:23 pm

      This is a new vegetable for me Valli. Curry looks very tempting.

      Reply
    25. Sushma Pinjala says

      January 29, 2019 at 3:52 am

      kasara kaya vepudu looks so good. Is this different from aakakara?

      Reply
    26. Pavani says

      February 01, 2019 at 3:12 am

      Kasara kaya is totally new to me Valli. Sounds very interesting and the curry itself looks delicious.

      Reply
    27. harini says

      February 03, 2019 at 2:21 am

      That is a new vegetable for me as well. I know aakakarakaya but this one sounds very interesting.

      Reply
    28. gayathriraani says

      February 04, 2019 at 7:26 am

      We get it during a particular season. Amma used to make this on Kaarthigai and the crunchy seeds add a lot to the taste. It has been a while since I cooked these but seeing makes me nostalgic.

      Reply
    29. Renu Agrawal Dongre says

      February 08, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      Never heard about this vegetable. Completely new to me but yes it looks very tempting. Will check If I get it here.

      Reply

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    srivalli

    Hi! Seasons change, yet there are some timeless recipes you can enjoy anytime. If you are sport for it, you are in the right place!

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