Karela (bitter gourd) Maharashtra style

Servings: 2
Preparation time: 10-12 minutes.
Frying time: 12 minutes.
Cooking time: 5 minutes.
Total time: 29 minutes.

If you think you don’t like bitter gourd, Maharashtrian-style preparation might just change your mind! Known as Karlyachi Bhaji. It is a traditional preparation that beautifully balances the natural bitterness of karela with the sweetness of coconut and peanut.

This dish is a fine example of how Maharashtrian cuisine uses simple, everyday ingredients to create harmony of flavours, bitter, sweet and spicy. Typically enjoyed with Bhakri, Chapati, or Plain Steamed Rice, it is both nourishing and satisfying, reflecting the essence of Maharashtrian home cooking.

Bitter gourd helps to maintain sugar level in the body especially in tropical Indian climate. Today’s recipe with loaded with rich protein from peanut & sesame seed. The recipe is for that person who wants variety in bitter gourd, Relish the taste…

Ingredient:

Bitter gourd: 150 gm
Onion: 1 no. (Medium)
Fresh coconut: 4-5” pieces
Cooking oil: 3 -4 tablespoon
Turmeric powder: half teaspoon
Coriander powder: 1 teaspoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon (as per taste)
Jaggery/Sugar: half teaspoon (optional)
Fennel seed powder: 1 tablespoon
Sesame seed: 1 tablespoon
Peanut: 1 tablespoon
Mustard seed: ½ teaspoon

Preparation:

Dry roast peanut, discard the skin of peanut, ground and make powder, keep aside.
Dry roast sesame seed, ground and make powder, keep aside.
Wash and Trim the both ends of bitter gourd, cut into 2-3” pieces, again cut these pieces longitudinally, keep aside.
Chop the onion. Keep aside.
Scrap coconut, keep aside.

Method:

Take a heavy bottom pan. Heat oil, add fennel seed and mustard seed, sputter few seconds; add a pinch of turmeric powder, and put chopped onion stir fry for 2 minutes on high flame till get translucent, add bitter gourd, saute on medium flame, cover for few minutes(~4-6 minutes).
Cook until half done add coriander powder, turmeric powder, salt, peanut, and sesame seed powder. Add scrapped fresh coconut and sugar; stir fry for 2 minutes, now Karela (bitter gourd) Marathi style is ready to serve.
Note: heavy bottom pan works better. This is served with Rice or Paratha.