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 on researching on 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 have been managing with it for a while but now it's completely given up on me. The only option is either get it repaired or buy 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, then 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. But I kind of think it might be called Indian gourd but then again I am not sure.
This is something that my in-laws love and my father in law gets these for Athamma. Though this was prepared in my SIL's place! The entire kilo of this vegetable was cleaned 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!
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Step By Step Pictures for making Kasaraya Kaya Vepudu 
Step By Step Pictures for making Kasaraya Kaya Vepudu 
Kasara Kaya Vepudu
Ingredients Needed
250 gms Kasara Kaya
1 medium Onion
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
A Pinch Turmeric Powder
Salt to taste
2 tsp Cooking Oil
1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Grated Coconut
1/4 tsp Urad Dal
1 tsp Fried Gram
3 pods Garlic
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 the stocks are removed, clean 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. 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.
Kasara Kaya Vepudu
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
- 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.
Siri says
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
Swati Raman Garg says
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..?
kamala says
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!!
Trupti says
this recipe & veggie is new to me thanks for sharing .
hey srivalli check my blog there is surprise for you
ranji says
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..
Sangeeth says
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 😉
Sukanya Ramkumar says
Hi....
This is a very different recipe. Looks great. Never heard abt Kasara kaya. Sorry abt ur cam......
Uma says
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.
Cham says
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.
Meera says
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.
bhags says
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
Divya Vikram says
think its athalakkai..nice recipe on the run
sowmya says
sounds good ...would love to try it...
Asha says
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!:)
Siri says
U have a little small little surprise on my blog Srii.
Siri
Sunshinemom says
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.
satya says
Kasara kayalu looking so cute......the name suggests that it's a sibling of bitter gourd...:D
Purnima says
Sri, Thats new veggi to me! Thanks for sharing!
Suganya says
I have never seen this veggie, Sri. Kamala says it is Athalakkai; doesn't ring a bell.
Anonymous says
Kasara Kaya is also called Adavi Kakara and scientific name is Momordica tuberosa. I gathered this information by googling. I love this curry. -Sushma
Anonymous says
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.........
Srivalli says
Thanks for the suggestions
Varada says
Very interesting vegetable. The preparation is so different from anything I make. It looks nice and crispy.
usha says
This is a new vegetable for me Valli. Curry looks very tempting.
Sushma Pinjala says
kasara kaya vepudu looks so good. Is this different from aakakara?
Pavani says
Kasara kaya is totally new to me Valli. Sounds very interesting and the curry itself looks delicious.
harini says
That is a new vegetable for me as well. I know aakakarakaya but this one sounds very interesting.
gayathriraani says
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.
Renu Agrawal Dongre says
Never heard about this vegetable. Completely new to me but yes it looks very tempting. Will check If I get it here.