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Stuffed Karela
Binjal Pandya

Stuffed Karela (Bharwan Karela) or Stuffed Bitter Gourd

Stuffed Karela or Bharwan Karela or Stuffed Bitter Gourd, is gourd with besan masala. Stuffed Karela is a great healthy side dish. Stuffed Karela is a unique Indian dish with such exquisite flavor that it will make even bitter karela taste like heaven.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 -5
Course: Main
Cuisine: India
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 5-6 Karela/Bitter Gourds
  • 2-3 tbsp Oil
  • Stuffing
  • ½ cup Besan/Chickpeas Flour
  • ¼ cup Peanuts
  • 1 tsp Green Chili-Ginger Paste
  • 1 tsp Sesame Seeds
  • 1-2 tbsp Coriander-Cumin Seeds Powder
  • 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 1 tsp Garam Masala
  • 1-2 tsp Amchoor Powder
  • Pinch of Hing/Asafoetida
  • 1-2 tsp Oil
  • 2-3 tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves
  • Salt
  • 1 tsp Sugar

Method
 

  1. Wash and wipe Karelas, and then scrap the skin roughly, and then slit it using knife without breaking or cutting into the two parts (halve).
  2. Remove the seeds from Karela using your thumb or you could use small spoon and just scoop out the seeds from each Karela and keep aside.
  3. In a small bowl collect all the scraped skin of karelas, add salt mix and keep aside for 10-15 mins. Sprinkle little salt on prepared karelas too, coat all the sides and keep aside.
  4. Now roast the besan on low flame about 2 mins, remove it into the mixing bowl and let it cool down.
  5. In a same pan roast peanuts on low flame, remove into the bowl and let it cool down and then crush it into coarse powder.
  6. Take a mixing bowl add roasted besan, add crushed peanuts, chili-ginger paste, coriander-cumin seeds powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, red chili powder, amchoor powder, pinch of hing, sugar, salt and oil in it. Mix well
  7. Now squeeze scrapped karela skin mixture and remove all the moisture using your hands, add over besan mixture along with chopped coriander leaves, sprinkle little water over the mixture, crumble with hand and mix all ingredients properly and make the mixture for stuffing.
  8. Now stuff the mixture into the each prepared Karela using your fingers and thumbs tightly, so that the stuffing does not come out while cooking.
  9. Heat the oil in a kadhai or pan and place the stuffed Karelas into the pan, sprinkle little water with hand, do not stir it.
  10. Cover the lid and cook it on medium flame till cooked all the sides, turn it upside down after every 2-3 minutes and check it in between cooking process.
  11. Bharwan Karela is ready serve it with roti/Phulka, paratha or dal-rice and enjoy!!

Notes

  • Add spices as per your taste.
  • Make green chili-ginger paste using 2-3 green chilies and 1/2 inch ginger.
  • You can add sauteed onion or minced garlic into the stuffing if you like it.
  • you can tie thread around karelas while cooking to avoid mess while cooking if mixture is loosely stuffed.
  • Skip Peanuts and use roasted desiccated coconut instead if you want.
    You can store the stuffed Karela up to 1 week into the refrigerator.