{"id":2439,"date":"2008-12-03T08:26:23","date_gmt":"2008-12-03T15:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ecurry.com\/blog\/?p=2439"},"modified":"2013-10-22T13:53:14","modified_gmt":"2013-10-22T20:53:14","slug":"bitter-melon-potato-stir-fry-with-poppy-seeds-aloo-karela-bhaji","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ecurry.com\/blog\/indian\/curries\/dry\/bitter-melon-potato-stir-fry-with-poppy-seeds-aloo-karela-bhaji\/","title":{"rendered":"Bitter Melon & Potato Stir Fry with Poppy Seeds (Aloo Karela Bhaji)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Remember all the groans & whines we came up with when we were forced to eat Karela\/Bitter Melons<\/strong>\u00a0when we were little? I have heard only of a handful of kids who eat this bitter vegetable without pulling a long sad face. I have found some ways (like this one), where the karela actually tastes not like karela. My kids (& my husband) do not whine when I make this stirfry. They Potatoes & the Karela are crispy, & has a nutty flavor.<\/p>\n

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“<\/em>Momordica charantia<\/strong> is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown for edible fruit, which is among the most bitter of all vegetables….. The fruit is most often eaten green.<\/strong> Although it can also be eaten when it has started to ripen and turn yellowish, it becomes more bitter as it ripens. The fully ripe fruit turns orange and mushy<\/strong>, is too bitter to eat, and splits into segments which curl back dramatically to expose seeds covered in bright red pulp.” (Wiki)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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These come in various shapes & sizes & are\u00a0widely consumed\u00a0in the Indian Subcontinent & South East Asia. Bitter melons are\u00a0used in various\u00a0 traditional medicine systems<\/strong> for a long time. Like most bitter-tasting foods, bitter melon stimulates digestion. It is also known to counteract Diabetes.<\/p>\n

Well given all these qualities, I now understand why we were all forced to swallow few bites of this vegetable:-). It has become more of a comfort food for me now. This year I grew some in our backyard<\/strong>. (This is the only thing I could grow, becoz this was the only thing the rabbits would not eat. The cotton tails are definitely cute\u00a0& our backyard is home to quite a few families…. & they devour about anything I plant).<\/p>\n

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Sending this to Grow your Own <\/a>Hosted by Andrea.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0The Bloom on the Fruit…..<\/p>\n

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\u00a0I used 2 Greens & 1 Ripe Yellow.<\/p>\n

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Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. 3 Karela – Quartered & chopped into small pieces<\/li>\n
  2. 4 Medium Sized Potato – Peeled & cut into 1\/2 inch cubes<\/li>\n
  3. 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds<\/li>\n
  4. 2 Red Dry Chillies<\/li>\n
  5. 2 tablespoons oil<\/li>\n
  6. 1.5 tablespoons Poppy Seeds<\/li>\n
  7. 1\/2 teaspoon Turmeric<\/li>\n
  8. Salt to taste<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Preparation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Heat Oil. Add the Cumin seeds\/Jeera & the dry red chilly. When they start to sizzle, add the Karela\/Bitter Melon, salt & turmeric.<\/p>\n

    Stir fry at high heat till they start getting slightly brown. Add the cubed potatoes. Toss for the oil & spice to coat the cubes. Cover & cook at low heat till the potatoes are almost done.<\/p>\n

    Uncover & stir fry at high heat till the potatoes & bitter melon is cooked through & are brown. Add the poppy seeds and fry for about 5 more minutes.<\/p>\n

    Its ready to serve…<\/p>\n

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    Serve with Hot white rice, & dal.<\/p>\n

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