Akakarakaya Kura | Kantola Curry

My blog has been silent from past some time, the reason simply because was that the past few months I have become extremely busy with my toddler and also was busy with my family.Though I did not want to take a break from blogging, with the growing demands of my toddler I am finding it difficult to blog on regular basis.It takes a while for me to blog regularly with enthusiasm like before, till then I would try to update my blog when I find time, please bear with me!

Akakarakaya,known as 'Kantola' in English is a kind of gourd which is slightly bitter in taste but not as bitter as bitter gourd.This vegetable is seasonal and hence when ever I find this vegetable in market I usually buy it as it is not easily available near my place.If you are not someone who likes bitter gourd this mildly bitter kantola would definitely impress you in the first taste.I usually prepare a simple stir fry or curry with this vegetable and not experimented other variations with this vegetable. I like this vegetable very much as it has slight crunch even after it has been cooked.If you want to check out Kantola Stir fry(Akakarakaya Vepudu) recipe check out here.

Akakarakaya Kura | Kantola Curry Recipe:

Serves 2 | Author: Prathibha

Prep time:10 mins | Cooking time: 30 mins | Total time: 40 mins

Cuisine: Andhra | Category: Side dish-Lunch

Ingredients:

250 gms Akakarakaya/Kantola

2 Onions,chopped

2 tbsp Sesame seeds powder

1 tsp Red chili powder

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1 tbsp Chana dal

1 tsp Urad dal

1/2 tsp Mustard seeds

a sprig of Curry leaves

Salt to taste

1 tbsp Oil

Method:

• Wash and cut the kantola into four quarters and cut into thin slices.
• Heat oil in a kadai and crackle mustard seeds.Add chana dal and urad dal and fry until it turns red in color.
• Add curry leaves and chopped onions and fry until it turns translucent.Now add the chopped kantola pieces and fry for 5-6 mins.Add turmeric powder to it and cover it and cook for 12-15 mins until it is done.
• Add red chili powder, sesame seed powder and salt and mix well and cover it and cook for 3-4 mins and switch off the flame.

Serve it with Rice/Roti.

Notes:

1. You can replace kantola with bitter gourd,bottle gourd or ridge gourd and follow the same process.In case if you are using bitter gourd,add salt and turmeric powder to the bitter gourd pieces and leave them aside for 15-20 mins and squeeze to remove extra water and follow the same process,this way it removes the bitterness of bitter gourd.
2. Instead of sesame seed powder you can even use telagapindi in the recipe.

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