Andhra Style Spicy Stuffed Bitter Gourd
A flavorful stir-fry made with roasted lentils,caramelized onions, garlic, and freshly ground masala.
Servings 4
Calories
Ingredients
- 6 Bitter gourd
- 1 tbsp Channa dal
- 1 tbsp Urad dal
- 2 tsp Red chili powder use paprika instead
- Cumin
- Red onion
- Curry leaves
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Yogurt
- Salt
Instructions
- Wash the bitter gourd well . Cut it into two and scoop out the soft core. Discard fully formed hard to cut seeds. Mix turmeric powder, salt and yogurt and apply it on all sides of the bitterguord and keep aside for 20 -30 minutes. Drain of the watery part only.
- Meanwhile heat 2-3 tsp of vegetable oil and add the channa dal after a minute add urad dal. On medium heat roast until they turn golden brown with a cooked aroma. Allow it to cool on a plate.
- In the same pan add the cumin seeds then the chopped onion and garlic and curry leaves saute for a minute then add the core of the bitter gourd, red chili powder and salt. Sauté for a few more minutes then cover and cook until soft.
- Once cool grind the roasted lentils and onion mixture to a coarse paste. sprinkle some water if the grinder has difficulty in rotating. Fill this mixture equally in the bitter gourd smells
- In the same pan add s tsp or two of ol and put the bitter gourd's cut side down then turn once to twice until the shells are half cooked by keeping it covered with a lid.
- Now equally fill all halves with the prepared mixture and fry in the same pan cut side down and then turn until well done by shallow frying to a crisp and brown outside .
- Remove from heat and garnish with fried curry leaves, channa dal and urad dal and serve warm with rice, ghee and mild other curries .
Notes
For the stuffing you could substitute the lentil powdered with one of these or a combination of :
- Chickpea flour
- Coconut
- Peanut
- Potato mashed
- Bread crumbs
- The famous Pakistani dish Keema karela has minced meat stuffed in bitter gourd.