Fried Bitter Gourd in yogurt / Raita

 Yogurt / Curd is often quite a staple in most Indian houses & no festive is complete without a bowl of creamy raita or Pachadi if your living in south....Those who love to have yogurt / curd daily then be innovative by adding vegetables which are healthy but hate to have it e.g... Bitter gourd, lady's finger, brinjal fry them & serve as a starter with yogurt dip.. ..

Fried Bitter Gourd with yogurt dip.

Bitter Gourd Raita.

Or roast them & mix into the yogurt / curd....Gr8 to have during summer :)

Bitter gourd is a low calorie & low carb vegetable...As i have mentioned in my older post  > Bitter Gourd Pulissary  recipe  this veggie is best eaten when fried, roasting or adding a small piece of jaggery while cooking to remove the bitterness.....

Here i given 2 recipes of having bitter gourd with yogurt / curd..

Ingredients : For fried bitter gourd....

• 200 gm bitter gourd.
• 1/4 cup rice flour.
• 1/4 cup maida.
• 1/2 tsp chilly powder.
• 1/4 tsp jeera / cumin powder.
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder.
• Salt to taste.
• Oil to deep fry.

For the yogurt dip :

• 1 cup yogurt.
• Pinch of roasted jeera powder.
• Pinch of chilly powder,
• 1/4 tsp sugar.
• Salt to taste.
• 1/2 tsp oil.
• 1/4 tsp mustard seeds.
• Few chopped curry leaves.

Method : For yogurt dip...

• For the yogurt dip buy the thick variety yogurt.. Add the yogurt in a bowl add sugar & salt & beat well till creamy sprinkle a pinch of roasted jeera powder & chilly powder..
• In another pan add 1/2 tsp oil when hot add mustard seeds let it crackle, add the curry leaves saute for a sec & off the flame.let it cool.
• Pour the seasoning over the curd & mix it lightly & keep aside.

For the fried bitter gourd :

• Cut the bitter gourd in half  remove the seeds & cut into thin strips.. To remove the bitterness soak in salted water for 1 hr....
• Squeeze out the water from the bitter gourd & place on a plate...

• Add chilly powder, turmeric powder,salt, jeera /cumin powder & mix well & keep aside for 1/2 an hr..

• Mean while  make a batter in a bowl add the rice flour, maida,a dash of salt ( remember that the salt has been added to bitter gourd pieces) sugar, water to make a semi thick batter stir with a spoon or wired whisk to make a smooth & lump free batter ...( Instead of maida you can add gram flour )..
• Meanwhile heat oil in a kadai/ skillet for deep frying, soak a few bitter gourd pieces in  the batter.....

• When the oi is hot enough adjust the flame to medium take a few of the bitter gourd pieces from the batter & drop in the hot oil keep stirring & turning over for even frying...
• When golden brown remove the pieces & place on a tissue / absorbent paper... Keep aside  

• Serve as a starter dip the bitter gourd in the yogurt dip & take a bite it's yummy!!! 

Bitter gourd Raita : 

• 1 cup  yogurt /curd
• 250 gm bitter gourd.
• 2 green chilies.
• 1/4'' ginger.
• A dash of yellow mustard seeds.
• Salt to taste.
• A dash of chilli powder.
• A dash of sugar.
• A pinch of roasted jeera powder.

Seasoning : 1 tsp oil, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, few sliced curry leaves. 

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1. Slit the bitter gourd into two remove the seeds & chop into bite size pieces.
2. Soak in salted water for 1/2 an hr, then drain the water & squeeze  the bitter gourd  so that all the water is drained  completely. 
3. Add a pinch of salt, red chilly powder to the bitter gourd & mix well.
4. Place the bitter gourd pieces in a microwave safe plate ( do not stack or overlap the pieces) &  microwave  till the bitter gourd is crispy ( this depends on the power of the microwave mine took 10 min to get the crispiness) in between pull the plate & move around the pieces so that they don't stick  to the  plate or deep fry the bitter gourd till crispy & remove them on a tissue paper to remove excesses oil. Keep aside to cool. 
5. In a bowl add the curd beat well.
6. Blend the green chilies, ginger, yellow mustard seeds with 2 tbsp curd / yogurt,remove & mix with the rest of the curd with a dash of sugar...
7. When the bitter gourd is cold add to the curd...check the salt& mix well.
8. Heat oil in another pan add the mustard seeds let it crackle, once it stops add the curry leaves saute till crispy off the flame, let it cool.
9. Once it's cold add to the curd mixture & mix it...
10. Sprinkle a pinch of roasted jeera powder...

•  A tasty way to include bitter gourd in our routine :)

You might also like > Bitter Gourd Pulissary