• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • HOME
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
elephants and the coconut trees
Home > Vegetarian > Pavakkai Puli Kuzhambu /Karela curry / Bitter gourd inTamarind gravy

Pavakkai Puli Kuzhambu /Karela curry / Bitter gourd inTamarind gravy

Last Updated on November 10, 2014

Share
Pin10
Tweet
Share

Pavakkai Puli Kuzhambu /Karela curry / Bitter gourd in Tamarind gravy is a riot of flavors, a perfect combination of tangy, bitter and coconut nuttiness.

pavakkai puli kuzhambu
Bitter for the winter!
It is true,bitter is really good for winter.

 

I love pavakkai / Bittergourd in any form. A tasty veggie,  I did not develop my liking towards it willingly but I am thankful to my mom for forcing me to try things I hesitated to. 

Here is a nice tangy tart curry to go with rice.I am sure you will love it.

I have not deep fried the bittergourd  but sauteed it for few minutes and steam cooked them.

 
 

Recipe adapted from :Cook like Priya

PRINTABLE RECIPE

Ingredients
 Bitter Gourd/ Pavakka – 2
Onion – 1 medium( chopped)
Tomato – 1 medium (chopped)
Tamarind – 1 medium gooseberry size

Chilli powder -1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Asafoetida – a small pinch

To make powder:
Coriander powder- 1 tbsp
Whole red dry chili -3

Cumin seeds -1 tsp 
Whole pepper corn- 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds -1 /2 tsp
 instead of  powdering use( puli kuzhambu powder -2 tsp + coriander powder -1 tsp).

To Grind to paste:
Coconut – 2 tbsp (I used 2 tbsp coconut milk)
Fennel Seed – 1 tsp (powdered)

Fenugreek seeds 1/2 tsp (dry roasted and powdered) 

Seasoning :
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp 
Red chili-1 
curry leaves- few

Method:

1.In a small pan dry roast the ingredients till the aroma comes switch off flame powder to fine when cool.Keep aside (Use store bought  powder to avoid this step but nothing beats home made pd.)
Soak tamarind in 1 glass warm water.
2. Cut the bitter gourd into thin rounds. Heat 2-3 tsp of cooking oil in a pan and saute them for a few minutes sprinkle some water with ur hand cover and let it cook in the steam. Check in between to see if its burning on the bottom.Add salt and cook till all the water evaporates.Keep aside.

3. Heat 3-4 tsps in a pan and saute the onions till are cooked then add the tomato chopped continue sauteing when it cooks add the powders.(salt,chilli,turmeric,asafoetida, masala powder from step 1) saute till for few minutes till oil separates then add tamarind extract let the curry come to a boil then reduce flame.
4. Add  coconut paste  let it simmer for 10-15 minutes till the curry thickens.(I have added fenugreek and fennel powder in the end here as I have used coconut milk for convenience sake)
5.Let the curry cool then add the cooked bitter gourd pieces.(this reduces bitterness spreading in the whole curry or add along with coconut paste if u like )
6.Heat one tsp oil add mustard when it crackles add whole red chili and curry leaves when the aroma comes switch off flame season on top of curry/kuzhambu.

Note:
U may deep fry the bitter gourd instead of steaming.

Use puli kuzhambu powder instead of the powder used here and reduce tamarind quantity accordingly.

As the curry rests it will darken in color.

Andd… now ur lunch is served……

 
 Instant Mango pickle-click for recipe ), Pavakkai puli kuzhambu, Beans poriyal, microwaved pappadam and Rice. 

Bitter gourd curries to try :

  • Pavakka pulincurry / Kaipakka pulincurry
  • Pavakka kichadi / Bittergourd in yogurt/ Nadan pavakka kichadi/ Kerala recipe
  • Bharwan Karela / Stuffed bitter gourd / Karela masaledar

Hope you like it.

Meena

 

 

Share
Pin10
Tweet
Share

Related Posts:

  • Bharwan Karela / Stuffed Bittergourd / Karela masaledar
    Bharwan Karela / Stuffed Bittergourd / Karela masaledar
  • Pavakka pulincurry / Kaipakka pulincurry without coconut
    Pavakka pulincurry / Kaipakka pulincurry without coconut
  • Lentils and vegetable curry
    Lentils and vegetable curry

Filed Under: Indian curry, South Indian curry, Vegetarian Tagged With: karela curry, Pavakkai Puli Kuzhambu

Previous Post: « Fall Postcards – II
Next Post: Carrot Cake with Coconut and Raisins »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linsy Patel

    November 10, 2014 at 5:41 pm

    whole platter looks delicious, this is my favorite vege and love to try this way too

    Reply
  2. Veena Theagarajan

    November 10, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    awesome Meena.. Curry looks so yum!

    Reply
  3. Kurinji

    November 10, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    mouthwatering kuzhambu….

    Reply
  4. Sathya Priya

    November 10, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    Yet to try puli kuzhambhu with ground spices ..Def a healthier,yummier one .

    Reply
  5. MonuTeena RecipesPassion

    November 11, 2014 at 2:26 am

    such a beautiful looking curry just wow

    Reply
  6. Shibi Thomas

    November 11, 2014 at 2:50 am

    Meena, I like Pavacka too. My grandma used to make Pavacka Manga Theeyal which was her favorite. Its been a while I had made anything with fresh pavacka. The curry looks really yum with the thick yellow gravy, perfect with some hot steaming rice.

    Reply
  7. marudhus kitchen

    November 11, 2014 at 12:18 am

    Excellent puli kulambu. .yumm

    Reply
  8. Rafeeda AR

    November 11, 2014 at 5:30 am

    I am not a fan of karela… can't stand it… but this curry looks so delicious, and that platter at the bottom… slurp!!!

    Reply
  9. Shaami (Shajitha Habeeb)

    November 11, 2014 at 8:40 am

    Pavakkai tangy curry looks tasty! healthy too….

    Reply
  10. Navaneetham Krishnan

    November 11, 2014 at 12:08 pm

    Ahhhh!!! simply so amazing. Love the tasty and you have presented the dish so well/

    Reply
  11. Julie

    November 11, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    very tempting curry,perfect with steamed rice 🙂

    Reply
  12. Carol at Wild Goose Tea

    November 11, 2014 at 11:43 pm

    Over the top winter dish. I would love to taste this!

    Reply
  13. Sona S

    November 12, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Pavakka puli kuzhambu looks very delicious..

    Reply
  14. Smitha Kalluraya

    November 12, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    love karela n i know this must hav tasted yum…

    Reply
  15. Ruxana Gafoor

    November 15, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    Not my fav. veggie but your gravy looks nice…lovely clicks

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

FREE Recipes

To keep u - updated and me - motivated :) Click HERE to Subscribe!

WELCOME

Hey ! this is Meena. Welcome to my space.
My blog has become my medium of expression and a way of keeping me happy.
I started off as novice in cooking and over the years my husband has put up with all my disasters in such a gracious and enduring manner, I owe him a lot for that…

Read More

Popular Recipes

vegan vegetable stew
salmon with shallots
Carrot halwa in instant pot 2
Coconut crusted cod fish 1
beetroot wine

Copyright © 2022 · Elephants and the Coconut Trees · Privacy Policy