Kakarakaya Karam

Ingredients:

1/4 kg bitter gourd, peel, slice into rounds

1/4 tsp turmeric pwd

1 onion, finely sliced

1 tsp grated jaggery (optional)

1 1/4 tbsps oil

salt to taste

For seasoning/poppu/tadka:

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp urad dal/minappa pappu/split gram dal

1 tsp senaga pappu/channa dal/bengal gram

10-12 curry leaves

Make a coarse pwd:

 4 garlic cloves

2 dry red chillies, de-seed

Method of preparation:

1 Add turmeric and salt to the peeled bittergourd slices. Leave aside for 15 mts. Gently squeeze the liquid off the slices.
2 Heat oil in a cooking vessel, add the mustard seeds and let them pop. Add urad dal and channa dal and toss till the dals turn red and then add the curry leaves, stir fry for a few seconds. Add the sliced onions and fry for 3-4 mts till they turn transparent.
3 Add the sliced bittergourd slices and saute. Constantly stir fry on medium heat ensuring they don’t burn or stick to the pan. Keep frying till they well roasted and this could take about 22-25 mts.
5 Add the ground red chilli-garlic mixture, jaggery and adjust salt. Combine and saute for another 3-4 mts. Serve hot with white rice.