BHARWAN KARELE ( STUFFED BITTER GOURD)

BHARWAN KARELE ( STUFFED BITTER GOURD)

1. Karela/ Bitter Gourd - 8-10 ( 5oo gms)
2. Onions - 200gms
3. Button Onions- 200gms
4. Mustard Oil - 100 ml
5. Red chilly powder - 3gms
6. Turmeric Powder - a thick pinch
7. Fenugreek Seeds/ Methi Dana - 2gms
8. Fennel Seeds/ Saunf - 2 gms
9. Salt - To taste.

• Method
• Wash bitter gourd and peel off the skin, trim the ends and slit the bitter gourd lengthwise and scoop off all the seeds and pulp from inside.
• Rub salt in and out of the bitter gourd and mix salt with the peel and seeds.
• Finely chop onions and peel skin of button onions and make two gashes but do not cut button onions.
• After around two hours wash the bitter gourd and remove excess water and salt from the peel mixture.
• In a thick bottomed pan add a teaspoon of mustard oil and let it heat for sometime so that it can smoke and its smell can be removed.
• Add Fenugreek seeds, Fennel seeds and fry chopped onions along with the peels and seeds of bitter gourd, add salt, turmeric powder and red chilly powder.
• Fry for some time ( around 5 minutes ) and remove, stuff this mixture in the bitter gourd and secure with a string.
• Heat remaining mustard oil and after smoking it, add bitter gourds and cook at high heat for a minute, then lower the flame and cook for 10 minutes on a slow flame.
• Turn the sides and add the button onions after rubbing a small amount of salt, turmeric and red chilly powder.
• Cook for another 10 minutes serve hot after removing the strings.