Bitter Gourd Pulissary

What‘s for lunch today…. if.the answers bitter gourd…. Yuk that’s you’ll get the answer from every body…this is one vegetable which is not liked by many of them…coz it has a strong bitter taste...

Though it has a unique taste it can be prepared delicious in a right way....I love this vegetable when its fried,when ever I visit a Kerala restaurant  they serve this bitter gourd chips  as a side dish I keep asking for more when fried there is no bitterness or if u cook it with a little bit of jaggery its delicious.

Here I’m going to share a recipe bitter gourd pulissary a sweet,sour & spicy dish. My mom is to prepare this dish for vishu & onam sadhya a favorite of mine even I make sure I prepare this on Kerala festival & it goes well with steamed rice , Toovar Dal or Pachadi...:)

Serves :5
Ingredients:

• 200 gm bitter gourd cut into small pieces .
• 7 red chilies.
• 2 tbsp or 1/8 cup coriander seeds.
• 1/4 cup grated coconut.
• A dash or 1/8 tsp methi seeds.
• 1/2 tsp jeera.
• 1/2 tsp pepper corns.
• 1 tbsp raw rice.
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder.
• 1 cup sambar onions/shallots sliced.
• 2 green chilies minced.
• 1 tsp crushed garlic.
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger.
• 10 gm tamarind soaked in hot water or you can use the paste.
• 25 gm jaggery.
• Salt to taste.
• 1 tsp coconut oil.

Seasoning: 1 tsp mustard seeds, few curry leaves, a pinch of methi seeds, 1/2 tsp crushed garlic,

2 whole red chilies,1 tbsp coconut oil.

Method:

• Wash the bitter gourd slit it into two & remove the seeds...

• Chop into bite sized pieces & soak the bitter gourd pieces in salted water for 1 hr to remove the bitterness, drain the water & keep aside.

• Heat 1 tsp oil in a non-stick pan add the raw rice & roast till it pops like a popcorn , it'll take 1-2 mins...

• Add the grated coconut & stir fry 3-4 mins....

• Add in the coriander seeds & continue stirring...

•  Till the coconut is light brown in color....
• Add the methi, jeera, pepper & keep stirring...

• Till the coconut is dark brown in color (as you see in the above pic)... Off the flame. 

• Add the red chilies & keep stirring till its cool,add the turmeric powder & grind to a fine paste.
• In a pressure cooker add the bitter gourd pieces,ground masala,masala water,sliced shallots,green chilies,ginger,garlic,jaggery,tamarind water(squeeze the tamarind well & use the juice) or Hog Plums, salt to taste & 1/4 cup water & let it boil,close the cooker & cook to 2-3 whistles.
• When the pressure is down open the lid & check (if you need more tangy add more tamarind juice) if there's more gravy reduce to a thick gravy.
• In another pan  add 1 tbsp coconut oil when hot add the mustard seeds when it stops popping add the crushed garlic, curry leaves,methi seeds & the whole red chilies stir for a sec & pour over the gravy & let it simmer for 5 mins...Take off flame serve hot with steamed rice :   

Bitter gourd with Ambade / Hog plums

Note: Instead of tamarind can add 3 or 4 Ambade / hog plums which is more tasty.😋