Stuffed Tawa Bitter Gourd

Bitter gourd though bitter is one of the most healthiest vegetable that one must include in their regular diet (Especially if any one in family has diabetics). They come in different sizes; I picked the small ones just to try out...however, the ideal ones for this style of preparation are the medium-long sized ones.

The "Tawa Style" preparation can be made using vegetables such as Bitter gourd, Ladies Fingers, Brinjal etc and is very famous in North Indian marriages etc... I tried making it by the recipe that I read in a recipe book a while ago. There are many other ways to cook the same.

Stuffed Tawa Fry Bitter Gourd

Ingredients: - For Stuffing

• Bitter Gourd : 4-6 medium length
• Onion : 2 medium 
• Ginger, Garlic Paste : 2 tspn
• Turmeric powder : 1 tspn
• Red Chillie powder : 1.5 tspn (As spicy as rqd)
• Coriander powder : 1.5-2 tsp 
• Mango powder : 1 tspn
• Salt: To Taste
• Roasted Gram powder : 1/2 cup (2-4 tspn)
• Cooking Oil : As required

Ingredients: - For Marination

• Hung curd : 1 cup (ensure there is no water)
• Turmeric Powder: 1 tspn
• Salt: to taste
• Chillie powder : 1/2 tspn (if rqd)

Method:

1. Wash the bitter gourds, and apply salt. Leave it in the fridge for 1 hour (To reduce the bitterness; optional)
2. Remove it from fridge, cut the end stems and scrap the skin
3. Make a slit at the middle of the bitter gourds ensuring the ends don't split up. 
4. Remove the seeds such that it can open up for stuffing
5. Apply salt again on the inside and outside of the bitter gourds and leave it aside for at least 30 mts (This is mandatory even if you skip Step 1)

      Stuffing:

1. Chop the onions into small pieces. In a kadai, add 2 -3 tspn of oil. To this add the onions and fry till they turn golden brown. 
2. To this add the roasted gram powder and fry it for 1-2 mts
3. Add Turmeric, Coriander, Chillie, and Mango powders as specified and salt
4. Add 1-2 tbspn of water and allow it to cook to make a mash
5. Allow it to cool

     Marination: In a bowl, mix curd with all other ingredients

     Preparing the bitter gourd:

1. In a kadai, add 3 cups of water. As it boils, add the bitter gourd with some salt and turmeric powder
2. Allow it to cook for 10 mts and remove from fire. Allow it to cool.
3. Stuff each bitter gourd with 1-2 tspn of the stuffing mix (As specified under the heading "Stuffing")
4. Ensure the stuffing doesn't spill out
5. Use a thread and tie each bitter gourd (optional)
6. In a tawa or a non-stick kadai, add 2 tbspn of oil. As it heats, place each bitter gourd. 
7. Allow each side to cook till dark brown

Tawa fry ideally is served hot along with rotis or with rice. In this style, the bitterness is almost removed. Treat yourself to some yummy bitter gourds :)