Monday 15 April 2013

Stuffed Karela (Bittergourd) - Gujarati Style....

Hey don't run away at the name of Karela!!! This is really really tasty!! And believe me you will be only too happy that you listened to my advice and decided to stick around :)
Even my toddler loves it!!! Calls it crispy karela and enjoys them!! Apparently i did the same when i was young (well, i still enjoy them :) and i still am young ok?!? maybe not as young as i used to be but still young ;)... i called them bharela Talela baandhela kaarela (Stuffed fried tied kaarela)!!!
My mom makes them by shallow frying...But recently i tried making them in my oven in grill mode!! And they tasted perfectly crispy!!! So now we use less oil but get same taste!!! Isn't it great?!?

Stuffed Karela....

Ingredient:

6 Karela (Bittergourd)
4 Tablespoon of Oil for shallow frying

For stuffing:
4 Tablespoon of besan (Bengal gram meal)
1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
4 teaspoon of dhania jeera powder (Corriander + Cumin Powder)
5 teaspoon of oil
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 pinch of hing (Asofoetida)
4 teaspoon sugar (Now don't think that she is asking to add sugar because she is Gujju....It really adds to the taste and helps in masking the bitter taste of karela)

Method:

1) Wash and peel the karelas.
2) Now make a vertical cut on a side and remove all the seeds. Rub salt in each karela and leave aside for an hour.
Seeds removed, salt rubbed and ready to stuffed..
 3) Now get your stuffing ready. For that in a mixing bowl, take Besan,salt, chili powder, turmeric, dhania jeera powder, Sugar, Hing and oil. Mix well.You should be able to see some binding. If you don't get binding then add 1/2 teaspoon oil. But please don't overdo oil...
4) Stuff this inside the karela generously..
Karela stuffed and ready to be cooked...

5) Now, if you are making them in a pan then, tie them using a thread. Don't use a colorful thread to tie the karela, please go for white thread (why?!? If you remember Bridget Jones cooking a dinner for her friends, you won't be asking this question, but in case you don't then let me tell you, the thread may pass on the color to your food...So now will you please pick up that white thread?!?)
If grilling in the Oven then skip this step...
Karelas shallow frying in a pan
6) After tying properly with the thread, shallow fry them in a pan. Skip this if going the grill way...
7) If grilling then please grease all the karela using little oil and Put them in a greased baking tray. Put it on a high rack in a preaheated oven. (Skip if you pan fried the karelas)

Going to be grilled - i kept them in a baking tin
8) Grill for 10 minutes and change the side. Then again grill for 7-8 minutes. (But please keep an eye on them, if you think that some of them are done then take them out leaving the undone karela inside to be grilled further.)

Grilled Stuffed Karela....
Once Out, cut the thread (of course, we are not eating the thread :) ) and cut the karelas in bite size pieces and enjoy the crispy karelas with hot fulkas and Gujarati daal!!!

Sending the pic in step 2 (Of Karela in my hand) to Priya's Colour me green event...Hey Priya, i have one more thing in mind, if i do that will send that too your event otherwise i at least have one entry now :)

Notes:
1) You can also make these karelas in a non-stick pan with less oil. I don't do that coz i am not a big fan of non-stick cookware. But if you don't mind using it and want to reduce the amount of oil then go for it.

+techie ZM 

38 comments:

  1. Oh, we have to peel them? The bittergourds that I used to get back in hometown were very pale green in colour and were not that bitter. And we never used to peel them. But the ones I get here are these dark green-oh-they-so-bitter-i-cant-eat-them kinda things :D So I just stopped buying them :(

    The stuffed version sounds so yum T2M. I will have to buy them bittergourds again :D

    B/w "bharela Talela baandhela kaarela" sounds so rhyming. I would have been saying (singing?) that aloud if it were not for a Techie who is reading something official and important :)

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  2. Hey, actually if you can lay your hands on those karelas then you don't have to peel them...
    But if you are getting those hybrid ones then peeling and rubbing salt would help in reducing the bitter taste...
    Buy those Bittergourds and make these version...It's sooooo yummmmmm...
    LOL at singing!!! I think next time my mom is around, i'll try singing it to hint her that it's time to to make them ;)

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  3. Love the filling and yummy taste.

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  4. I'm going to try bharva karela with besan....lovely..

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    Replies
    1. Great!!! Let me know if you need any help...

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  5. Have seen ur prof every time I visit Priya's space..Glad to land up on ur space :) Am ur new follower !!

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  6. Wow! I love bharwan karela... Very nicely done as this requires a lot of patience... Wonderful recipe dear... I am a hard core lover of karela and this is surely tempting :-)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Nilu :) I love these karelas!!! I am sure you too will enjoy them :)

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  7. Awesome ! this is a great way of perking up Karelas !

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  8. You make me want to go out hunting for Karela now. I have actually never found them here. I love karela in any form and this recipe is fantastic. I like that you finished cooking it in the oven..what a lovely, healthy recipe:-)

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    Replies
    1. Ohhh..that's so sad :(
      i too don't get some of gujarati veggies in Noida, but thankfully i have someone or the other visiting us from there hence i get my share of gujju veggies here...
      Thanks Sonali....Hope you find Karelas, make them and enjoy them..

      Delete
  9. I would love to try out this fried gourds. We eat bitter gourds very often, actually it works best for our half's diabetes. Brilliant recipe and I am keeping it aside for my cooking venture.

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    Replies
    1. Go ahead and try it!!! I am sure you will love it...

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  10. Just mouthwatering...looks delicious!

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  11. Awesome. . Looks so delicious

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  12. Wow stuffed bitter gourd I always love them... New to ur space... When I find time drop at mine...
    Event: Dish name starts with S till May 30th and a giveaway

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Akila :)
      Hopping over to your place...

      Delete

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    ReplyDelete
  14. These look fantastic! I've personally never had anything like this before so I'll definitely give these a try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Justin...Let me know if you need some help while making it..

      Delete
  15. Thanks Ana, Will think about it and let you know...

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  16. Looks super yummy TM :) I am never a fan of karela.. but your recipe screams at me to try it out!! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks GB :)
      Try it out to see if you convert to a fan!!!

      Delete
  17. My favourite veggie but I have not tried this way of preparing them..
    Bookmarked..
    Happy blogging..and glad to follow you..
    Reva

    ReplyDelete
  18. Stuffed Karelas look gr8! Never tried this before. Thanks for the recipe. First time here. Loved your space.

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  19. Lovely recipe...yummy...
    Todays recipe:http://www.7aumsuvai.com/2013/04/ashoka-halwa-300th-post-with-video.html#.UX-ltrWG0YE

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for visiting my website.. You have a nice space.. stuffed karela looks mouthwatering..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nithya!!!
      Hope to see you around :)

      Delete

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