Bharli Karli / Stuffed Bitter Gourd. Is a unique and interesting side dish delicacy made with bitter gourd. The spiced masala with onions and spices are stuffed inside the bitter gourd cavity and then fried till it is crisp. The stuffed karela is generally served as a side dish or a bite to the dal rice or sambar rice combination, but can also be served with roti or chapati.
Bharli Karli / Stuffed Bitter Gourd
Course: Main Course, Veg, Veg BreakfastCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Medium4
servings30
minutes40
minutesIngredients
4 medium-size bitter melon/karela
2 tablespoon roasted peanuts
2 tablespoons grated / thinly sliced dry coconut
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds/ til
4-5 cloves of garlic
2 tablespoon jaggery powder / gud
Small gooseberry size tamarind
1 tablespoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon cumin seeds powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2 tablespoon oil
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
Pinch of asafoetida
A handful of fresh coriander leaves
Directions
- Wash the bitter melon. Pat dry. Tip-off both ends and make 3-4 pieces of each melon. Slit each piece in such a way that it remains intact, but has a cut on one side.
- For the stuffing, make a coarse paste of roasted peanuts, dry coconut, toasted sesame seeds, garlic in a grinder jar. Add the red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder, and salt to the paste. Add finely chopped fresh coriander leaves also to the stuffing.
- Stuff the filling inside each bitter melon piece. Heat oil in a wok. Add cumin seeds to it. Once the seeds crackle, add the stuffed melon pieces and stir fry for 2-3 minutes on low to medium flame.
- Add the extra stuffing if left followed by 1/4 cup water, tamarind extract, jaggery, and salt to taste.
