Blogging Marathon #122 Week 2, Day 2
Theme : Dry side dishes
Bitter gourd is not exactly everyone’s favorite. But it’s an absolute favorite of mine. My husband wasn’t a fan and so for many years I would just not buy it. Then I realized I don’t have to give up things I like for his sake and started buying it whenever I feel like it. Initially I would prepare a backup dish for him whenever I make bitter gourd. But my husband has developed a taste for it now. He even comes for a second serving at times. It’s surprising how much we have both changed over the years!
I recently got the Instant Pot air fryer lid. Today I made bitter gourd using that. Our lunch was a crispy masala bitter gourd fry, very similar to this recipe. My son still hates bitter gourd, hopefully he will develop a taste soon.
The recipe here is not like a fry, it’s like a thoran where you sauté the vegetables and then add coconut. There is no one single way to prepare this. Some people like it with a lot of coconut and some like it a little less. It’s something you need to adjust according to your tastebuds.
Read on for the recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 3 medium bitter gourds, seeded and chopped
- 2-3 chopped green chilies, or per taste
- 1/3 cup shredded coconut
- Salt to taste
Method:
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and once it crackles, add the chopped bitter gourd, salt and green chilies.
- Cook until the veggie is done, stirring in between to ensure even cooking. The longer you cook, the crispier the veggie becomes.
- Add the shredded coconut and mix it in. Cook for another couple of minutes and turn off the heat.
My Kitchen Trials 
Never tried bitter gourd poriyal this way and always make it with masala. Going to try this way soon as I love bitter gourd.
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I have not developed a taste for bitter gourd but my husband is a great fan of it. My MIL makes many varieties with it and I try my best to include it in my diet. This sounds like a good one to try too.
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Absolutely my favourite vegetable. I cannot get enough of it! This week I can buy some bitter gourd and make some porial.
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I totally agree with you that bitter gourd is not everybody’s favorite. My kids run at the sight of it and I’m so crazy about bitter gourd that during summers it is always there in my fridge. We in Punjab make bitter gourd in very different way. Would love to try with coconut but just a doubt…doesn’t it taste bitter without any sour element in it?
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This is a curry that I love too. I add a little tamarind water too. Going to make this weekend in your style. Thanks for sharing the recipe for a healthy curry.
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I do agree that we all change our tastes over the years. Though for me, this one hasn’t changed…hehehe…However, because my husband loves and insists that I also try I have been taking a small spoon of this fry when we make it…all elders at home love this except me, so we often make it…your version is very different Rajani…very healthy and nice!
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