Kakarakaya Vepudu (Bitter Gourd Stir Fry)

Ingredients:

Kakarakayalu (Bitter Gourds) - 300gm

Crushed garlic pods - 3-4

Ground nuts/Peanuts - 2-3 tbsp

Urad dal - 1/2 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tbsp

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tbsp

Green chillies - 2

Red chillies - 3

Red chilly powder - 1/2 tbsp

Turmeric - 1/4 tbsp

Shredded/Grated coconut - 2-3 tbsp

Jaggery - 1 tbsp (optional)

Salt - as per taste

Oil - 2 tbsp

Procedure:

1. Wash, clean, deseed and chop bitter gourds in to very small pieces. Sprinkle some salt, turmeric all over and keep aside. After 2-3 minutes, squeeze all the excess water from them.
2. Take a kadai, heat oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and let them splutter. Then add urad dal, crushed garlic pods, chopped green chillies, red chillies, ground nuts and fry them for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add chopped bitter gourd pieces and continue cooking them in medium flame with occasional stirring.
4. Once the bitter gourd pieces start altering their color or when they turn tender, add shredded coconut and continue frying for some time.
5. Sprinkle some red chilly powder, adjust salt and mix well.
6. When the bitter gourd pieces are completely cooked and just before you switch off the flame, add jaggery and stir well so that it melts completely. Serve hot with white rice.

TIP: In order to make the recipe much more yummy, add some chopped onion before adding bitter gourd pieces. Since onion has natural sweetness, it will decline the bitter taste of kakarakaya.