Pavakkai Gojju, Bitter Gourd (Karela) Curry

          Bitter Gourd, not a very favorite vegetable for most of us, some of us just can't eat it at all, but in my house, we like it, and this Pavakkai/Karela Gojju is a favorite. This is a simple recipe, the vegetable is sauteed really well and this removes the bitterness ( at least most of it ) and we also add jaggery which makes this curry really tasty. This goes very well as part of a South Indian meal, with rice and sambar, as a side dish for rotis, tastes great when mixed with some white rice or as a side for some curd rice..

Bitter Gourd Fry

          Like I mentioned earlier, I like bitter gourds very much, but since the other two people at home don't like it much, I hardly cooked them, especially this fry. I grew up, eating this at least once a week, my father being a big fan of this vegetable. I don't know whether I loved it then, but now, when I visit my parents I specifically ask for this. Couple of weeks back, I decided to make this just for me ( of course I made another curry for the rest of the family). This rarely happens or should I say, never happened. Since I have never made this curry, I called my mother for the recipe, and was very happy when it came out well, of course when she makes it, it tastes even better. But now, coming to the surprising part, the husband, who I thought, would never touch this curry, ended up finishing half of it. Do our tastes change as we grow older, well, but now I can make this fry more often..

Bitter Gourd Pitlai

          When I mention the vegetable bitter gourd (pavakkai, karela), I know there are quite a few people out there, like my husband and daughter who are going to turn off. As for me, I love this vegetable, especially the way my mom makes it (will do a post later ), but the only way the family will take it is in the form of a fry (where the vegetable is killed off it's valuable nutrients ) or this pitlai, I prefer the latter for known reasons. Adding tamarind and other spices brings down the bitterness, and it tastes delicious with rice and adding a little ghee makes it even more tastier, I know many of you will have your own versions, this is mine..