Stuffed Karela

Stuffed Karela in Marathi

Time: 25 minutes
serves: 2 to 4 persons

Ingredients:
4 small Karela (bitter gourd)
Oil for deep frying
Stuffing:
2 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
2 tbsp roasted besan flour (roast over 1 tbsp oil)
2 tbsp roasted coconut (dry coconut)
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp Amchoor powder (dry mango powder)
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/4 tsp Hing (Asafoetida)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp fennel seeds (saunf)
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp poppy seeds (optional) (roasted)
Salt to taste

Method:
1) Wash karela nicely. Grate the surface and make it smooth. Slit lengthwise, remove seeds. Rub little salt inside the karela.
2) Crush roasted sesame seeds and coconut together. Add roasted besan, coriander-cumin powder, amchoor, red chili powder, sugar, crushed poppy seeds and little salt(remember, we've rubbed little into karela).
3) Stuff this mixture inside karela. Tie each karela tightly with a tread. Deep fry until golden crispy.

Tips:
1) Karela can be shallow fried. Heat around 1/4 cup of oil into a pan. Prepare tempering by adding mustard seeds, hing, turmeric powder. Add karela, cover and cook for few minutes. Change the sides occasionally. Press with a spoon, so that karela gets cooked properly.
2) Always choose small karelas. They cook faster, and easy to serve (usually one karela is sufficient for one person)