easy bharwa karela recipe | stuffed karela recipe | bharva karele | karela ka bharwa

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 40 minutes
  • Total time: 70 minutes
  • Yield: 4 Servings
  • Category: curry
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

for soaking:

  • 9 bitter gourd / karela
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • water (for soaking)

for masala stuffing:

  • 2 tsp oil
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp sesame
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds
  • ¼ cup peanut (roasted)
  • 3 tbsp dry coconut (sliced)
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • small ball sized tamarind
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 tbsp coriander (finely chopped)

for curry:

  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • pinch hing
  • few curry leaves
  • 1 onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • ½ tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 2 tomato (finely chopped)
  • 2 tbsp jaggery
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp coriander (finely chopped)

Method

how to remove bitterness from karela:

  1. firstly, slit the karela and remove the seeds. removing the seeds will create room for stuffing and also reduce bitterness.
  2. sprinkle 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp turmeric.
  3. soak in water for 20 minutes. this helps to reduce bitterness.

how to prepare masala for stuffing:

  1. firstly, in a pan heat 2 tsp oil.
  2. add 2 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 tbsp sesame and 1 tsp poppy seeds.
  3. roast on low flame until the spices turn aromatic.
  4. now add ¼ cup peanut, 3 tbsp dry coconut and roast until it turns crunchy.
  5. cool completely and transfer to mixi.
  6. add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, small ball sized tamarind and ½ tsp salt.
  7. blend to a coarse paste without adding any water.
  8. transfer the masala powder to the pan, add ½ onion and 2 tbsp coriander.
  9. mix well making sure everything is well combined.
  10. now take the karela and stuff the masala into it. keep aside.

how to prepare stuffed bitter gourd curry:

  1. firstly, in a large kadai heat 3 tbsp oil. splutter 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp cumin, pinch hing and few curry leaves.
  2. add 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and saute well.
  3. keeping the flame on low add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp garam masala.
  4. saute until the spices turn aromatic.
  5. now add 2 tomato and saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
  6. add in stuffed karela and cook for a minute.
  7. also add 2 tbsp jaggery, ½ tsp salt and 1 cup water.
  8. stir well adjusting consistency as required.
  9. cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until karela gets cooked well.
  10. finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy bharwa karela with roti or phulka.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.