Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Pan fried BitterGourd

To be frank, I hate this vegetable. But my hubby loves it. So I had no other go than learning how to cook it. In my mom's place they do a different recipe in which the bitterness is so subtle. But my MIL does not do anything to remove the bitterness and my hubby likes this veggie that way. Poor me, I always have to make another veggie for me on the days I cook this (extra work). This time when I went to India I saw small bittergourds . They are called "merry pavakkai". Here is a pic of the same and also the pic of my MIL's preparation. She uses tomato in hers.

Now that you have seen one version, here is mine. This is less bitter and it can be enjoyed with sambar rice. It gets a nice roasted texture and taste as it is cooked on low flame towards the end. Adding a hint of jaggery also helps in masking the bitterness. (ooh..that's a lot of bitterness in this post). Now to the recipe.


Ingredients:
bittergourd/pavakkai- 2 medium sized
onion- 1/2 (sliced)
curry leaves-few
sambar powder- 2 tsp
salt- as reqd
jaggery- 1/4 tsp
tamarind paste- 1/4 tsp

Procedure:
Cut the pavakkai's into medium-thin rounds. You can keep the seeds if you like it. If not , just push the center part with your thumb and it comes right off. In a bowl add 1 tbsp of yogurt,some water and salt. Mix well and get it to buttermilk consistency. If you have ready buttermilk that is perfectly fine too. Add the pavakkai rounds to it and soak it for 15 mins. Then wash it 2 or 3 times. This helps in removing the bitterness to a little extent.
Now heat the pan and put a tbsp of oil. Fry mustard seeds, urad dal, channa dal and some cumin. Then add onions, curry leaves and some turmeric. Fry it for 5 mins. Then add pavakkai and reqd salt. Saute for a few mins. Now add little water and close the pan. Cook for another 5 to 10 mins. When the color of the veggie changes, add the sambar powder, tamarind and jaggery. Mix well. Take off the lid and fry in medium low flame. The key to this roast is , don't use a spatula and keep on mixing it. This might break the veggie. So, you just toss the veggie every 5 mins. You will get a nice roasted texture this way. Enjoy!!!

24 comments:

Latha Narasimhan said...

I love paharkai kribha!:)) These days my hubby has joined me in eating bitter gourd! Even if it is only for me I definitely cook this!:)) You have used the smaller variety which is very tasty!

Swaruchy said...

Kribha....I liked ur version better than ur mom-in laws.....Somehow...I don't like tomatoes in bitter gourd...It tastes great when its deep fried.....

FH said...

I have never seen these short little Bitter gourds! That looks delicious, got to buy some and make it for Arvind:)

Laavanya said...

I love pavakkai made in anyway but my husband only likes it when fried... Yours looks so golden and delicious.

Raks said...

I Like pavakai deep fried....But this also sounds very easy to make...Yours looks yummy and thanx for the pictures...

Kribha said...

Hi Latha ma,
are you a paharkai lover too? I've still not developed the taste for it. Anyway, I'm glad that you liked it.

Hi Sirisha,
Thanks dear. Me too, I don't like bitter ones. Deep fried version can mask it really well.

Hi Asha,
I'm not sure if you get this in US. I took that pic in India. Anyway, goodluck for the search and do let me know if you find it here.

Hi laavanya,
Glad you liked it dear. In my house it is the reverse of what you said. My hubby loves it and I don't.

Hi Raks,
You are most welcome.Sure this is so easy. Do give it a try sometime.

Padma said...

Kribha, how can you hate that, I so much love to eat them... I was eyeing Sharmi's gojju and now ur recipe is also tempting me to bring them on my next visit to Subzi mandi.... yeah not sure we I can find that small ones..
these are the small small things I miss about India daily... :(

Rajitha said...

hey kribha..i am not a fan of parrikai too...but ur parrikai looks yum

DK said...

Like u, I dont have an affinity towards bitterguard..will try this method for the same reason as yours! Hubby ! :)

bee said...

my favourtie veggie. and i like it really bitter, without jaggery. thanks for the recipe.

remya said...

kribha i like ur pavakkai fry...looks lovely!!! i used to keep pavakkai with all masala powder n salt,yogurt marginated in fridge for an hour and bake them for 10 min....u'll get crispy fry without oil...

Pravs said...

Bitter gourds looks really cute :D
Love the bitterness in bitter gourd.The fry looks so good.

indosungod said...

Kribha, the roasted bitter gourd looks yum, it is one of my favorite veggies, will have to try it your way.

Richa said...

mini karela looks so cute :)
i make one version with jaggery, yum! your version looks good, nice to hv variations!

Viji said...

Kribha, medu pavakai - i don't get it here. But when you prepare sambar with that, oh lovely taste. Nice post. Love the roasted one. Viji

Lissie said...

beautiful pictures! loved your version of bitter gourd...

Sia said...

first time i am seeing those mini bitter gourds kribha. they r so cute. i love pan fried bitter gourd and add more jaggary whenever i make them;)
i haven't posted my thai green curry recipe yet. will post it soon. jasmine rice has very nice aroma like basmati and its little sticky rice. try buying a samll packet and cook in microwave and see how u like it. as for me, i just love the smell of it. its just heavenly...

Finla said...

Kribha to tell you the truth i am like you don't like this vegetable ever since i was a child.
But the pic looks good

Unknown said...

Kribha I never had this veg before so like to try it sometimes, the pic looks good too.
XX
Matin

Suganya said...

Its been ages since I have had midhi paavakkai. I love pavakkai fry.

Kribha said...

Hi Padma,
you are like my hubby. What to do? I really don't like this. However much I try to appreciate it I'm unable to. But that's just me. Hope you find the little bittergourds. Good luck.

Hi Rajitha,
I'm with you. Sometimes I wonder how people can tolerate the bitter taste. Anyway, we people can just admire the appearance alone.

Hi Dhivya,
So, your hubby is a pavakkai lover too? Do try it for him sometime. Goodluck.

Hi Bee,
My hubby also likes it without jaggery. He would scold me if I add even a little bit. But this time Iadded jaggery as I wanted to post this recipe.

Kribha said...

Hi Remya,
That sounds intresting. will try this recipe for my hubby. Thanks for sharing it.

Hi Pravs,
I'm so suprised to see this many bittergourd lovers. Glad you liked my curry.

Hi ISG,
Thanks dear. I'm happy that you liked it. Do give it a try sometime.

Hi Richa,
Thanks dear. Will check in your blog for your version.

Hi vijika,
Do they add this in sambar? I never knew it before. Glad you liked it.

Hi Lissie,
Nice to have you here. Glad you liked it. Please keep visiting.

Hi Sia,
these mini ones are so common in India. But I'm not sure about UK. And 'thanks' for the info on jasmine rice. will try it sometime.

Hi HC,
I don't blame you. I'm also like you. Just posted it for bittergourd lovers.

Hi toothfairy,
If you have not tried this before, I'm not sure if you will like it. It tastes really bitter. But you can give it a try if you want. Good luck.

Hi Sugi,
Although I don't like this , I just posted it for guys like you.

KayKat said...

Mangoes! Corn! Figs! Now you've made me nostalgic.

The bittergourd curry looks great - always loved the baby gourds better than the big ones :)

Kribha said...

I understand that Kaykat. I love those too. I'm not a bittergourd lover but I'm glad you liked it. Please come back for more.