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June 29, 2012

Bharwa Karela (Stuffed Baby Bittergourd)


Bittergourd is one of those vegetables that I am sort of indifferent to. I can't profess undying love for this cucurbit. At the same time, I will not suddenly decide to participate in a 100m dash just because this vegetable shows up on the menu. I have eaten it and enjoyed it in many ways.

Many years ago, a classmate of mine invited me to lunch and made stuffed bittergourd. I was more into baking and western cooking then and so I didn't think about asking her for the recipe. This time when I brought home a bag of baby bittergourds, I decided to try making a stuffed version of my own, taking a cue from my stuffed lady's finger recipe.

1/4 kilo Baby Bittergourd

To be mixed together:

1 tbsp Chopped Garlic
1/4 cup Gram Flour (Besan)
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1 tsp Cumin Powder
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
½ tsp Turmeric Powder
¼ tsp Garam Masala
1 tsp Bharwan Tawa Masala (optional)
1 tsp Lime Juice
Salt to taste

For the tempering:
2 tsp Oil
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/4 tsp Asafoetida

Wash the bitter gourds well and dry on a towel until completely dry. Chop the two ends off for each gourd. Slit each gourd lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Heat 4 cups of water and add some salt to this. Add the slit gourds and boil for 5 minutes. Drain and cool.

Stuff the prepared mixture into the bittergourds.


In a pan, heat the oil and add the cumin seeds. When they crackle, add the asafoetida and the stuffed bittergourds. Cover and cook on a low flame till the gourds are done (about 15 minutes). Remove the lid and allow to crispen.

I could eat a bowl of this as it is. That is how good it is. It definitely has some bitterness, which I don't mind. But apart from that, it is tangy and spicy and just what a side dish needs to be.

8 comments:

chef and her kitchen said...

I like bittergourds in stuffed form..just need a couple of them for my lunch now

Janaki/Ishaan Sai said...

Is there a way to do away with the bitterness as we do while making normal Karela sabji?

FewMinute Wonders said...

I am not too fond of bitter gourd, but the rest of the family does, will make this for them.

Spandana said...

Not a big fan of bittergourd, but the stuffing sounds delicious!

Brindavan in the bay area said...

Would love to get my hands on those baby bittergourds here...but ...sigh. I love them, especially the baby ones.

Supriya's Rasoi said...

Wow I love karela and this one looks yummy.

Swetha Sree said...

Must be great with curd rice . Should get baby karela and try once. :)

Unknown said...

Reena, thanks for your comment on baigan recipe. I did use 2 tbsp and only now noticed that it said 2 tsp in my recipe instead. I apologize for that and fixing it right away. It also depends on how fresh the baigan is and also cook on medium fire and last 1 minute crank the heat up for great color.