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    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Pavakkai Curry ~ South Indian Meal Dishes

    Pavakkai Curry ~ South Indian Meal Dishes

    Published: Jul 10, 2014 · Modified: Oct 5, 2020 by Srivalli · 13 Comments

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    For the second day of South Indian Meal Dishes, I have yet another healthy vegetable that gets served as the side dish. Though something that I stay away from. Didn't I tell you that I don't eat bitter gourd? Well for all it's healthy etc, it's something I am yet to get friendly with. When you are not friendly with something, you really don't want to do much with it right?
    So it happens that when I see that this is served, I only make a point to check out how it is done and make notes to replicate at home. Hubby dear happens to love this vegetable, I have always wondered how. Anyway each one to their fancy. If he likes, I will make it, only he shouldn't force me to eat. One will think that one would want to share such things. No, he is so fond that he doesn't mind not sharing. All good for me though!
    Athamma also loves Karela, so I make different varieties with this vegetable just for the two of them. This version was told by Amma and hubby dear said it tastes good. If you are a karela lover, you will love it, is what he says!

    Pavakkai Curry 



    Ingredients Needed:

    Bitter gourd - 2 medium / 2 cups
    Onions - 1 medium
    Tomato - 1 medium
    Mustard Seeds, Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
    curry leaves handful
    Red chili powder - 1 tsp
    Coriander powder - 1 tsp
    Turmeric powder a pinch
    Salt to taste
    Tamarind extract - 2 tsp
    Oil - 2 tsp

    How to make the bitter gourd curry

    Wash and chop the bitter gourds as julienne.

    Heat a pan with oil, add mustard, urad dal and curry leaves. Saute for couple of mins, then add the chopped onions, continue sauteing till the onions turn colour

    Then add the chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric. Mix well and simmer. Let the tomatoes get soft.

    Next add the red chili powder, coriander powder. Combine all and sprinkle little water on it for the tomatoes to get very mushy. Now add bitter gourd pieces and saute well.

    Let this get well mixed, now add the tamarind extract and continue boiling. Add 1/2 cup water and let it boil and then simmer so that the vegetable gets cooked and water is all evaporated.

    Notes:

    Normally bitter gourd is either dry roasted or par boiled to remove excess bitterness. In this curry we have not done that as we are adding tamarind extract, which will balance the bitterness.

    The curry is supposed to be dry saute with the masala clinging to the vegetable.

    Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42

    Recipe

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    Pavakkai Curry ~ South Indian Meal Dishes

    Course Main Dish – Dry Sautes
    Cuisine South Indian, Tamil Nadu
    Dish Type Dry Side Dishes
    Author Srivalli
    Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!
    « Navaratna Sundal Curry ~ South Indian Meal Dishes
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. vaishali sabnani says

      July 11, 2014 at 12:34 am

      well this is one of my fav too...you got to peel the karelas..right?..will make it soon..must be yum with tamarind:)

      Reply
    2. Srivalli says

      July 11, 2014 at 3:23 am

      Vaishali We mostly don't peel the karelas too much, just scrap the outer skin lightly...if you notice hard, you will see the thick green outer skin

      Reply
    3. Nivedhanams Sowmya says

      July 11, 2014 at 5:22 am

      delicious curry!! very healthy too...

      Reply
    4. Priya Suresh says

      July 11, 2014 at 8:03 am

      Usually i chop them as small bites, may be i'll try with julienned ones, one of my fav curry.

      Reply
    5. Leena Chandrashekar says

      July 11, 2014 at 11:48 am

      Looks yummy..do visit my blog dear..thanks

      Reply
    6. Suma Gandlur says

      July 11, 2014 at 7:04 pm

      The same idea works in my home too. I too cook dishes which are not favorite of mine but no one can make me eat. 🙂
      I am surprised that your bitter gourd preparation doesn't need any sweetener.

      Reply
    7. Sarita says

      July 11, 2014 at 10:55 pm

      Your curries are too tempting... Yummy .

      Reply
    8. Srivalli says

      July 12, 2014 at 1:30 am

      Suma I don't remember either Amma or Athamma adding jaggary to our bittergourd, so even I never do. I can't say how different it might taste as I don't eat it. However my husband likes it bitter. So I guess he doesn't know the difference..:)

      Reply
    9. Sapana Behl says

      July 12, 2014 at 10:46 pm

      Bitter gourd is my favorite too...loved your version !

      Reply
    10. Harini-Jaya R says

      July 14, 2014 at 1:31 am

      Hmm. I was also wondering why there is no jaggery in this curry 🙂

      Reply
    11. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      July 14, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      I absolutely love pavakkai and in fact my whole family loves it. That is the reason we grow tons of pavakki in our backyard. We also add jaggery in our curry, but like you said if you like it bitter, then it alright to skip it.

      Reply
    12. Sreevalli E says

      July 14, 2014 at 8:35 pm

      Very tempting curry.. For the fact I'm a fan of this veggie & I'm trying this dish.

      Reply
    13. Suja Ram says

      July 16, 2014 at 7:58 am

      Nice side-dish recipe. My husband too loves bitter gourd very much and so I do this style curry often.

      Reply

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