Stuffed Karela (Bitter gourd)

This recipe is developed and prepared by my husband.  Me and my daughters enjoy his cooking as he comes out with new ideas and innovative ingredients to the usual recipes too.  One of the innovative 'Stuffed Karela' recipe is given below.

Ingredients:

Karela (Bitter gourd) -2  medium sized
Besan (Gram flour)  - 3 heaped tablespoons
Rice flour - 1 heaped tablespoon
Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Oil - 6 tbsp

Filling:

In a pan, add 2 tbsp of oil, put mustard seeds, when it splutters add Jeera and Hing.  Switch off the heat and add besan, rice flour, pepper powder, turmeric powder,chilli powder, Asafoetida and salt (little extra for the karela too) and mix well in the residual heat.  Do not use water in the entire procedure.

Wash the Karela well and wipe it dry.  Slit it open into two lengthy halves.  Remove the pith and dry it with a paper towel.  Fill it with the above stuffing mixture and close the karela and tie it with a thread so that it does not fall apart and the stuffing is in tact while done.

Pour 4 tbsp oil in a flat bottom non stick pan and place the stuffed karelas on it. Keep turning the karelas on medium heat initially with lid on.  When it is free of moisture, remove the lid and keep turning till it is done.

Transfer and remove the threads and slice it into small pieces. This dish goes well with Rice items and Rotis.

'Hunger finds no fault with the cooking' - Anonymous