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Bharwa Karela Recipe

Sanjeev Kumar
Bharwa Karela is a traditional recipe that has been passed down through centuries. But don't let its intricacy deter you; we've streamlined the process so you can easily recreate this delectable dish in your own home.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • bitter gourd
  • onions
  • green chillies
  • spices turmeric powder, amchur powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder
  • salt to taste
  • oil mustard/olive

Instructions
 

Preparing the Bitter Gourd

  • To begin, wash the bitter gourd thoroughly under running water.
  • Once clean, pat them dry using a kitchen towel. And then trim the ends of the bitter gourd and make a lengthwise slit on one side. Be careful not to cut the bitter gourd into two halves.
  • Use a spoon or knife to remove the seeds and pith from the inside, creating a hollow cavity/chamber.
  • Boil the Karela for 10-15 minutes till they become tender. And then strain the water and keep Karela aside.

Preparing the Stuffing

  • Heat a pan and add oil to it, and let it heat for a while on medium flame.
  • Add cumin seeds and chopped green chillies to the pan. Stir for a while.
  • Add onions to the pan and keep stirring until they started become translucent.
  • Now add ginger-garlic paste to the mixture and give a good stir. Cook for 4-5 minutes till the onions turn golden brown.
  • It's now time to add all the spices - turmeric, red chili, coriander, and amchur powder. Add salt to taste and mix well and stir for 2-3 minutes on low flame and then turn off the heat.

Stuffing the Bitter Gourd

  • Take a spoonful of the stuffing mixture and carefully stuff it into the hollow cavity/chamber of bitter gourd.
  • Repeat the process for all the bitter gourds until they are all stuffed.

Cooking the Bharwa Karela

  • Heat oil in a medium/large pan or skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the stuffed bitter gourds in the pan.
  • Cook for a few minutes over medium heat until they start to brown. Flip them gently, carefully and cook on all sides until they are evenly cooked and golden brown.
  • Once cooked, remove the Bharwa Karela from the pan and arrange them on a serving plate.
Keyword bharwa karela