Bitter Gourd Fry, How to Make Bitter Gourd Fry Recipe, Kakarakaya Fry
Bitter gourd fry is a spicy and crispy vegetarian recipe. This recipe is made in Andhra style and also known as kakarakaya fry. In my childhood, if there is any vegetable I don’t like, it is the bitter gourd. If I am right many of you have faced the same moment in your life.
After getting to know its health benefits I started to learn how to eat it by removing its bitterness. When I was watching the tv show I got to know how to remove bitterness and make a delicious recipe. To my luck in my first attempt, I was able to make it delicious. After having a bite I was shocked to check its flavour.
Many believe bitter gourd recipes lower blood sugar levels but we should be aware of the fact that its seeds are a bit toxin. But still, they are used as a medicinal herb and can be healthy only when taken in smaller quantity so people who eat regularly, I recommend you to have Kakarakaya Fry occasionally.
Tips to make perfect Bitter Gourd Fry:
- In our recipe, kakarakaya is cut into thin pieces and then soaked in salt water to reduce bitterness.
- We can peel the skin of the bitter gourd to reduce bitterness.
- Sesame and groundnut powder not only enhances the flavour but also reduces bitter taste.
- In order to maintain crispiness first we do kakarayaka fry and then add to onions and temper spices.
- Do not remove seeds if they are tender as they give crunchy flavour when deep-fried.
You may like to check my other recipes – sind sai bhaji, mushroom curry, gobi ka paratha, cabbage coconut curry and hara pulao.
Bitter Gourd Fry, How to Make Bitter Gourd Fry Recipe, Kakarakaya Fry
Ingredients
- Kakarakaya/ Bitter Gourd – 500 gms.
- Salt – 2 ½ tbsp.
- Water – Required quantity
- Sesame seeds – 1 cup
- Groundnuts – 1 cup
- Coriander seeds – 3 tbsp.
- Mustard seeds – ½ tbsp.
- Cumin seeds – ½ tbsp.
- Chana dal – 1 tbsp.
- Garlic cloves – 2 tbsp. 14 No.
- Green chillies – 4 No.
- Curry leaves – 2 tbsp.
- Turmeric powder – ½ tbsp.
- Red chilli powder – 1 ½ tbsp.
Instructions
- Slice bitter gourd and add them to saltwater and squeeze them and dry them to deep fry.
- Let us make spice powder, dry roast sesame seeds, roast groundnuts and coriander seeds individual.
- Similarly, blend each ingredient separately and keep aside.
- In a frying pan, add oil and once its heated, put bitter gourd and deep fry till they turn golden brown. Keep aside.
- In remaining oil, add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, chana dal, green chillies and onions.
- Once onions turn translucent add garlic cloves and curry leaves.
- Sprinkle a little salt, turmeric powder and all spice powders. Mix well.
- At the end sprinkle red chilli powder and mix well.
- Bitter gourd fry or kakarakaya fry tastes great when accompanied with hot plain rice.
Recipe Video
How to make Bitter Gourd Fry Recipe:
- Slice bitter gourd into thin pieces.
- Add little salt in water and put above pieces into it so that bitterness comes down.
- Extract all water and dry on a clean white cloth.
Preparing Bitter Gourd Spice Powder:
- Put sesame seeds in a small vessel and dry roast them till they turn their colour to a golden brown, keep aside.
- Similarly, dry roast groundnuts till they turn crisp, keep aside.
- Dry roast coriander seeds separately and let them cool down.
- Put sesame seeds in a blender and make soft powder.
- Add roast groundnuts and make powder.
- Similarly, add roasted coriander seeds and make fresh powder.
- In a vessel, heat oil and add bitter gourd, deep fry they turn colour.
- Once they are fried, transfer to another bowl.
- In the leftover oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chana dal and onions and fry for a while.
- Add garlic cloves and green chillies, sauté for a while.
- Put 2 tbsp. curry leaves to have a good aroma.
- Add kakarakaya fry, turmeric powder, 1 ½ tbsp. salt and mix well.
- Sprinkle sesame seed powder, groundnut powder and coriander powder, mix well.
- Add red chilli powder and mix well.
- Kakarakaya Fry or Bitter Gourd Fry tastes great when accompanied with hot rice.
