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Bitter gourd Mashed (Karela Bharta)

Servings: 4-5
Preparation time: 10 minutes.
Boiling time: 10-12 minutes.
Cooking time: 12-15 minutes.
Total time: 37 minutes.

I was reading somewhere an article related to biography of Mahatma Gandhi, according to that Gandhi ji preferred simple and boiled food including many types of gourd. At that moment I was thinking about simple dish which can be made from one of the gourd, and it came to my thought, what about ‘Bitter Gourd Mashed’ for ‘Indian Cooking Manual’, as we know if anyone falls in love with a hobby he plan every moment, an idea to do something related to that.

It is difficult to eat and enjoy food type that Mahatma Gandhi enjoyed but if a variation can be created which people really – really enjoy although it comes in the category of boiled food.

Earlier I thought that boiled bitter gourd is more bitter than fried but it is not true, bitterness is almost similar or less than fried that I knew a year before; when I ate ‘Bentou box(Japanese lunch box)’.

Ingredients:

Bitter gourd (karela): 150-200 gm.
Tomato: 50 gm.
Onion: 100 gm.
Ginger: 1” piece
Mustard seed: half teaspoon
Turmeric powder: half teaspoon
Coriander powder: 1 tablespoon
Fennel seed powder: 1 tablespoon
Sugar: 1 teaspoon (optional)
Mango powder: 1 teaspoon
Mustard oil: 2 tablespoon
Coriander leaf: 1 tablespoon (chopped)
Salt: 1 teaspoon

Preparation:

Chop bitter gourd coarsely; remove the seeds, boil/microwave, roughly mash this with masher or spoon, keep aside.
Chop onion, tomato and ginger into small pieces.

Method:

Take fry pan; put oil when it smokes add mustard seeds, wait till it sputters. Add fennel seed powder, onion and ginger; stir it and fry (keep it stirring otherwise it may burn). Fry on high flame for couple of minutes or till it become translucent, add tomato stir fry for couple of minutes add salt, turmeric powder, coriander powder.
Add mashed bitter gourd and fry (About 3-5 minutes); add mango powder, sugar and green coriander leaf and mix well, fry for couple of minute, put off the flame.
Now, ‘Bitter gourd Mashed (Karela Bharta)’ is ready to be served with any type of meal as hot ghee doused Chapatti and Dal or in combination with Steamed Rice and Dal.