Hagalkaayi Palya / Bittergourd Stir Fry

Ingredients

1 karela / bittergourd / hagalkaayi

2 finely chopped onions

6 tsp oil

1 tsp mustard

1 slit green chilli

Curry leaves

3 tbsp grated fresh coconut

1 tsp tamarind paste

Jaggery to taste

Palyada pudi / curry powder to taste

Oil to deep fry karela

Procedure

• Wash karela, cut the ends and cut it lengthwise into four pieces, cut again into thin slices

• Add 1 tsp salt to the cut karela pieces, mix well and keep aside for 1 hour

• After one-hour squeeze water from the karela pieces and deep fry until they turn crisp and brown in colour

• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard. Once it starts crackling, add curry leaves, slit green chillies and fry for a minute

• Add chopped onions and saute until they turn translucent

• Now add fried karela pieces, grated coconut, tamarind paste, salt to taste and powdered jaggery according to your taste

• Add curry powder according to your taste

• Cook for 5 to 10 mins and mix well till all the ingredients are combined well

• Turn off the flame and serve hot with rice and rasam.

To make palyada pudi / Curry powder You need :

Ingredients: 1 cup coriander seeds/ daniya 1/4 cup cumin seeds/jeera 1/2 cup chana dal / Bengal gram dal 1/4 cup urad dal / black gram lentil 1 tsp asafoetida / hing powder 15 byadgi red chillies Procedure Dry roast all the ingredients. Let it cool. Grind them into fine powder and store in an airtight jar.