Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Kakarakaya Podi / Bittergourd Powder

After my sweet post now comes my bitter post because 'BITTER' is 'BETTER'...ha ha..
I have mentioned in my earlier posts that Bittergourd is the most favorite vegetable for my husband and is also a favorite vegetable at my in-laws place too.The way it is cooked in my in-laws place is quite different from my mom's place as in my in-laws place they don't bother to remove the bitterness as they all like the bitter taste of it but it is not the same with me.I can eat bittergourd only if it is cooked in such a way that its bitterness is removed.My mom cooks the bittergourd in such a way that no one could ever say 'NO' to that 'bitter' Bittergourd being it in the form of fry,stew,curry or this podi. Bittergourd powder is one such classic preparation by my mom that it is loved by everyone and I am sure that even a non-bittergourd lover will definitely like it without any doubt.This is a perfect balanced powder where the bitterness of the bittergourd is reduced and is balanced with the sweetness of onions and dry coconut and fiery hot red chillies.It tastes best when mixed with hot rice and sesame oil and biting into the raw onions......hmmm...it tastes so yummy.

If you have a fussy eater at home for bitter gourd you can definitely try this one for them and if you are a bitter gourd lover this is definitely a treat for you.

Ingredients:
1/2 kg Bittergourd
4 big Onions,very finely chopped
1 heaped cup grated dry coconut
3 tbps curds
15 red chillies,fiery hot one's
a gooseberry sized tamarind
1/2 cup regular oil approximately
salt to taste

Method:
  • Grate the bittergourds with a fine grater.Add salt and curds to it and mix well and leave it aside for 1 hr.Now squeeze the water completely from the bitter gourd and keep it aside.This step is mandatory in order to ease the process of frying the bittergourd and storing the powder,it will also remove 60-70% of the bitterness.If you still want to remove more bitterness wash the squeezed bitter gourd and squeeze the water again.Take care that no water should be present in the squeezed bitter gourd,repeat the process twice if needed.
  • Tear the tamarind into small pieces and slightly dry roast the red chillies and tamarind for few seconds.This step is however optional if your red chillies are softer and tamarind is slightly damp.
  • Now grind the red chillies,tamarind,dry coconut with salt to a slight coarse powder.
  • In a thick bottomed kadai heat oil(1/2 cup approximately) add squeezed bitter gourd and fry on a very low flame until it is slight golden in color(75-80% done),it approximately takes 15-20 mins.This step is very important and it is to be on very low flame.
  • Now add the very finely chopped onions to the bitter gourd and fry on a very low flame until the onions and bittergourd is deep golden in color.It takes for around 15 mins again.
  • Add the ground spice mixture to it and mix well and keep stirring on low flame for 3-4 mins and remove it from the stove.
  • Cool the powder completely and store it in air tight container.
Serve it with hot rice and a dollop of ghee or sesame oil and finely cut raw onions.I personally prefer to eat it with sesame oil and raw onion.

Note:
  • It stays good outside for 20 days without any problem and if you keep it in refrigerator you can store it for 2-3 months.I hope that it would not last that longer if you are someone like us it should get over in less than a month.
  • Updated:It is mandatory to squeeze the water from the bitter gourd in order to fry the bitter gourd crispier and helps in storing for long.Squeezing of water from bitter gourd is not just to remove the bitterness from it,it helps in quick frying,storage and even enhances the taste and it also helps in consuming less amount of oil.
  • For a Vegan version add salt and turmeric powder to bitter gourd to remove the bitterness instead of curds in the recipe.

46 comments:

  1. Hi dear...beautiful and attractive presentation...i love bittergourd..sure to give a try of this recipe..thanx dear..

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  2. I liked your blog very much.
    Bittergourd looks fabulous. I appreciate for your wonderful presentation. Thanks for your lovely recipe.
    You are welcome in my blogs.

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  3. Great looking and truly tempting powder, its in to do list since long..beautiful clicks..

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  4. Lovely recipe Pratibha. Probably I will try it without squeezing the liquid, like the bitterness of karela.

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  5. ohh wow!!..very nice pics and this is completely new to me!!..bookmarked...sure gonan try soon :)

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  6. This is something which i havent heard of, but your pics are simply amazing ....and it looks yum as well

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  7. The recipe kakarakaya podi is very tasty, i tasted this in my sisters home.Its delicious..

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  8. never heard of it..but now im a bit curious as to what it tastes like

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  9. Lovely podi dear, I love bitter gourds in any form..book marking it!

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  10. Wow! This is a very different and unique recipe :-) Beautiful clicks!

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  11. beautiful clicks, n very interesting recipe.

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  12. i love this pdi and the way u prepared it. new to me and will try it soon

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  13. wow podi looks delicious n healthy too ...love it ..bookmarked ur recipe..thanks for sharing
    wow its super way of using leftovers....looks delicious

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  14. Really healthy podi dear! never had this before,but surelly will try...

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  15. I always squeeze out the water from bitter gourd . Your pictures are looking amazing....nice clicks
    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  16. This looks sooo yum.
    BTW tried ur checkerboard cake for my sons b'day..was awesome! thanks.

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  17. Completely a new dish to me. I am too fussy to eat this bitter gourd, but your podi tempts me now:) Very nice recipe dear. Thanks for sharing...much useful.

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  18. looks amazing...this is something new to me..thanks for sharing.

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  19. OK, that is just amazing, what a great new recipe. I have never ever heard of it. Love it :)

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  20. I once got a pack of this podi from a shop in Mysore .It looked a lot different from urz,very pale actually but tasted great.But I am not going to buy that anymore.Yours looks so vibrant and am sure it gona be a lot tastier that the store bought podi.Will be preparing it this weekend.Lovely clicks as usual :)Thanks for the wonderful recipe Prathiba.

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  21. U have a lovely space. Luv the recipes and the presentation.

    Happy to follow u

    Cheers n Happy Cooking,
    Satrupa
    http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com

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  22. Wow, tats very nice..I made it long time back..will try urs soon :)

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  23. Eevn I prepare bittergourd pudi, but never tried adding onions to it. Will try it once. Lovely pictures

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  24. this is a cool idea, thanks for sharing

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  25. Prathy, thanks for your lovely comment on my blog..you have a wonderful space..I'm following you:-)

    have tasted this bittergourd podi..but never prepared it at home..thanks for sharing this yummy podi..book marked:-)

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  26. I love bittergourd and podi. So a combo of this is always welcome. Its something new to me. Bookmarked.

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  27. Thanks for dropping by Pratibha !!
    You have a wonderful blog and i loved this bitter guard powder . I like it with all it's bitterness and may be i'd like to use it as it is.

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  28. Beautiful presentation as always.This podi looks healthy and yummy!

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  29. Thank you all for the lovely comments.
    Sanjeeta and Sangeeta,
    It is mandaory to squeeze the extra water from the bittergourd inorder make it fry crispier and can be storable...Squeezing out the water is not just to remove the bitterness from it.

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  30. Hi
    This must be bookmarked and prepared as soon as possible. Lovely recipe.
    Thanks.
    Thanks for visiting me too.

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  31. This is new to me,never heard of kakarakaya podi.Superb clicks.

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  32. I love bitter gourd whereas my husband does not like it .So I can prepare this and keep it for me Nice recipe .Sure to try this

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  33. Wow prathy i love this and we make it too but slightly different .. will try thisout next time as BG is my very fav veggie... looks super good and yummy!!!

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  34. vry tempting kakarakaya podi... feels like to tate them... very intresting and beautifully clicked dear

    i love ur blog so much.. have a lovely space ...and good collection of recipes .. if u find time do visit my blog.. added u to my blogger friends list....happy to follow ur blog

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  35. Never tried this, looks tempting and super...Will try this..

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  36. This is so unique. I had bittergourd fry for lunch today :-)Think I should try this recipe sometimes

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  37. looks very delicious. nice clicks prathi.

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  38. This dish is new to me. Well presented.

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  39. Hi Pratibha,
    I am preparing this often now, and I have taken this to my blog too with your recipe.
    Please visit me and let me know.
    Thanks once again for such a wonderful recipe.

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  40. Good receipe, bt bitter gourd is good for health becoz of its bitterness, removing the bitterness by mixing it with curd........ how good it is to health dear???????

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  41. @anonymous...not every one likes and eats bittergourd,to enjoy the health benefits of bitter gourd this is a way to incorporate them in their diet for ppl who do not prefer them..btw we are slightly reducing the bitterness ,not removing it totally and this way the health benefits of bitter gourd would not be changed...but if you can take that much bitterness you can use it as it is...its left to you..

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  42. Last yr I grew lots of Kakarakaya. So I sliced them and desiccated the slices. Can image the powder with the dried kakarakya ?
    Pl let me know. Thx.
    Radha

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  43. @Radha..you cannot use dried kakarakaya for this as it would have lost all its moisture and does not taste good with it...try with fresh karela next time

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Hugs,
Prathy