Saturday 15 November 2008

Kerala jo Shaak / Spicy Bitter Gourds Ismaili Style

Chachi made these last Sunday for Dolubai.  I got to have some too.  Slightly bitter, but very tasty.



Ingredients
4-5 unripe bitter gourds / kerala - should be firm to the touch
1 tblspn vegetable oil
1 tspn cumin seeds
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves; minced
1 inch ginger; grated
2 green chillies; minced
2 medium tomatoes; blanched, peeled and liquidised
1/4 tspn tumeric
1 tspn coriander / cumin powders

Method
1.  Scrap the kerala / bitter gourds, and slice into 1/4 inch half circles.  Discard the ripe ones (with red seeds).  Or remove the seeds.  The seed in unripe kerala are tender.
2. Soak in salty water for at least 30 minutes
3. Heat the oil, and fry the cumin seeds, until they swell up, add the onion, fry until golden brown.
4. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli paste, mix and fry for about 30 secs.
5. Add the bitter gourd and stir for about 5 minutes
6. Add the tomatoes, stir and cook for 5 minutes, add the tumeric, coriander and cumin powders, mix, reduce the heat and cook for about 20 minutes or until the bitter gourd is cooked.
Serve with hot chapatis
Good for diabetes




8 comments:

Finla said...

Bittergourd is one of the veggies i dislike, i think it is bacause my mom used to make us eat when we were small saying it was so healthy

Saju said...

I am just beginning to like it, I hated it as a child. Similarly I never like aubergines or okra; I love aubergines and tolerate okra now.

Dori said...

I have never tried bitter gourds, but they look delicious in this dish!

Uj said...

Hey dish looks great. My hubby loves Karela.. Got to try this for him

Subodh said...

I am writing to you as the editor of www.dadinani.com, where we are collecting a variety of Indian memories. I am writing to you as the Editor of www.dadinani.com, where we are collecting a variety of Indian memories. Among these are authentic old recipes, along with a story about the recipe http://www.dadinani.com/capture-memories/read-contributions/dadi-nani-cooking.

Would you be able to and interested in submitting 1-2 recipes that were used at least 40 years ago?

With regards.

Subodh Mathur - scmathur@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

One other way to remove the bitterness from karela (instead of salt water marination) is to gently boil the karela in jaggery (gour) sweetened water for a few moments before making the curry.

Anonymous said...

One other way to remove the bitterness from karela (instead of salt water marination) is to gently boil the karela in jaggery (gour) sweetened water for a few moments before making the curry.

Anonymous said...

it should be called Karela not KERALA :)

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