Karela Sabzi
A classic, easy vegan recipe for karela or bitter melon, one of South Asia's most popular summer vegetables.
Ingredients
- 4 bitter melons skin scraped with a knife, sliced length wise, deseeded and sliced in half rings (roughly 1 ½ lb)
- ½ cup oil
- 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced in half rings (roughly 1 ½ lb)
- 2 teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 2 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 4 roma tomatoes diced
- 4 tablespoon cilantro finely diced for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Generously salt sliced bitter melon and place in colander for 2 hours. Squeeze water out with your hands.
- In a large saucepan, heat oil and fry bitter melon on low to medium heat for 20 – 30 minutes. Drain on paper towel and set aside.
- In the same oil, add onion and fry for 10 minutes on low to medium heat till it browns evenly.
- Add salt and spices and stir for 1 – 3 minutes. Add water to deglaze the pan if necessary.
- Add diced tomatoes and fry on high heat for 5- 7 minutes.
- Add the fried bitter melon. Dial heat to lowest possible point and cover. Let it steam for five minutes.
- Add cilantro for garnish and serve with either roti or plain rice.