Stuffed Karela
Author: 
Recipe type: Main course
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: serves 3
 
Karela or Bitter Gourd is a vegetable very few people would profess a love for. It has numerous health benefits but the bitter taste that it is so famous for keeps it from being a well liked vegetable. You either love it, or hate it. This recipe made me, and may other Karela haters, fall in love with it.
Ingredients
  • 5-6regular Karelas or 7-8 Baby Karelas
Instructions
  1. Scrapeoff a bit of the hard skin, slit lengthwise and deseed.
  2. Boilwater, add salt to it and cook the Karelas in it till ALMOST done and NOT fully
  3. cooked. When done, drain the water and keep aside.
  4. For the Stuffing:
  5. Tbsp Oil
  6. /4th Tsp Hing
  7. ½Tsp Cumin/Jeera
  8. ½Tsp Mustard/Rye
  9. /4th Tsp Methi Seeds
  10. large Onions, chopped
  11. -8 medium sized Cloves of Garlic
  12. ½ inch Cinnamon OR ¼th Tsp Cinnamon Powder
  13. Jaggery, to taste OR ¾TH Tsp
  14. Tsp Red Chilly Powder
  15. /4th Tsp Coriander Powder
  16. ½ Tsp Haldi/Turmeric Powder
  17. Heat oil in a pan.
  18. Add the Hing, Jeera, Rye and let them pop.
  19. Addt he Methi seeds and stir
  20. Add the Garlic and saute for a bit
  21. Add the Onions and fry till they start turning brown
  22. Add all the other ingredients and cook until the oil seperate
  23. Switch off the flame, let it cool and grind it coarsely (1-2 turns in a mixie is
  24. usually enough)
  25. Stuff the Karelas with this mix. If you have stuffing left over keep it aside.
  26. For
  27. the Tadka/Tempering:
  28. Oil,2 Tbsp
  29. -9 Kadipata/curry leaves
  30. Tbsps Tamarind juice (extract pulp by soaking Tamarind in hot water, add water to form a watery juice)
  31. Heat the Oil in a pan
  32. Add the Kadipata and saute for a minute
  33. Add the stuffed Karelas and the leftover stuffing masala, if any, to this.
  34. Cover and cook for 7-8 mins, stirring in between, or till almost done.
  35. Add the Tamarind Juice and cook without covering till the juice is absorbed
  36. Switch off the flame and garnish with Coriander
  37. Tastes best eaten with Steamed Rice and a dollop of Ghee.
Recipe by Sirimiri at https://sirimiri.in/2017/01/25/stuffed-karela/