Authentic Karela Recipe

How to make Chatpate Masaledar Karela Sabzi | Authentic Bitter Gourd Masala Fry (Heirloom recipe)

Sharing step by step authentic recipe of karela (Bitter gourd), which are cooked in a very unique manner. In this recipe, Bitter gourds are blanched, stir fried and cooked in hand blended onion, tomato mix and flavored with Indian spices.

Today I'm going to share very interesting and unique recipe of bitter gourd. The USP of this bitter gourd recipe is that it is cooked with hand blended ingredients.

Mom shared this unique  recipe  as that's how my Nani and my mom's grandmother use to follow this method. In those days, life was very different, no mixer grinder, hand blenders, food processors or use of any electronic items, in fact electricity was also considered as a luxury item. Receiving an electric supply in your home means you are coming under affluent and rich people.:) In those days cooking was done on charcoal stoves and then shifted over to portable kerosene stoves....

Today's recipe is very easy and comes under fast to cook, good to eat recipes.. The best thing is that this gravy preparation works great on bitter gourd. You will be surprised to see that this gravy preparation controls bitterness in a very effective way..

☑ Let's get started now 
Read the details of the recipe 

⚫Prep time - 10 min

⚫Cook time - 15-20 min

⚫Cuisine - Indian 

⚫Recipe type - Main Course 

⚫Recipe difficulty level - very easy

⚫Servings 2

☑ Ingredients required 

⚫250 grams Karela (bitter gourd) - Washed, peeled, blanched

⚫2 onions - chopped 

⚫2 tomatoes - chopped 

⚫1 tbsp coriander leaves

⚫3 green chillies 

⚫3tsp coriander powder

⚫2tsp red chilly powder,

⚫1 tsp turmeric powder

⚫1 tsp tamarind pulp

⚫Salt to taste

⚫1tbsp Cooking oil

Method ⬇

☑ Step 1 Mise en Place - vegetable chopping 

♦Tomatoes - roughly chopped 

♦Onions - roughly chopped 

♦Karela - Peeled, blanched and saute or shallow fried

♦Coriander leaves - finely chopped 

♦green chillies - finely chopped 

☑ Step 2 Gravy preparation 

♦ In a mixing bowl add onions, tomatoes, cilantro leaves, tamarind paste, green chillies, coriander powder, red chilly powder and salt to taste. Mix all well and blend like kneading a dough. I am using Pav bhaji masher as allergic to green chillies and tomatoes, but hand mashed is preferred in this recipe..

☑ Step 3 : Cooking Time

♦Heat oil in a deep frying pan. Add bitter gourd and sauté them for 3-5 minutes Add hand blended mix, prepared in step no 2. Saute on low fire for 2 minutes.

♦Add approximately one cup of water. Mix all well together. Close the lid. Reduce heat to simmer and cook until tender. Adjust the gravy consistency, as per your taste. Serve hot garnished with coriander leaves.