Creating a blog was out of the question for a long time for me, as measuring everything in the kitchen was like biting into an eggshell. I enjoy cooking and don’t want to waste even a slightest bit of enjoyment in that small world of mine. But little did I know that everything will change, when my husband came home with the Oscar nominated film ‘Julie and Julia’( a real life story) where Julie Powell (part played by Amy Adams) challenged herself to make all the 524 recipes from Julia Child's cook book ‘Mastering the Art of French Cooking’ and blogging all her experiences (The Julie/Julia Project). It was an inspiring movie. A few days later when we were discussing this casually with a friend of ours over tea…everything changed dramatically…..” How about you making at least half of it in one year? Not French but your own. 262 recipes that will inspire others and present it as a blog?” For a minute my mind traveled faster than light… With an experience as a helper in my mother in laws kitchen for 6 years followed by a three year everyday struggle to satisfy the palate of my foodie husband, if I cannot do it then why should I cook? But on the other side with an experience in English literature extending no more than expanding outline stories in English grammar class when I was 18 and two small kids that come in handy at times, will a commitment for the next one year work? Anyway my ‘cook's ego’ didn’t allow me to say no...

So my friends …here I am opening my recipe book, trying to perfect and present 262 recipes in the coming 365 days….A Challenge that will of course tastes good. Come.. Have a walk with me along my journey.. Cheering and inspiring….Forgiving and tolerating…Testing and tasting….for ‘A Tasty Challenge’

Search This Blog

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pavakka/ Bitter Guard/ Karela Fry

Recipe No: 271
Ingredients                               Serves 3
  • Pavakka/ Karela……….250 grams (1 big/ 2 small)
  • Onion sliced thin……….1/3 Cup
  • Coconut sliced thin……1/4 Cup
  • Green Chilly slit………..1-3
  • Curry Leaves……………1 Sprig
  • Salt………………………….1/3 – ½ Teaspoon
  • Oil for deep frying
Method of Preparation
  1. Wash and dry the Bitter Guard/ Pavakka. Cut it lengthwise into two; discard the seeds and the fibrous portions inside.
  2. Slice them horizontally into very thin pieces. (Make it as thin as possible.)
  3. Add Salt to the pieces and keep it aside for 10 minutes. By then some liquid will be oozing out of the Bitter Guard pieces. Squeeze the pieces as hard as possible and discard the juices.
  4. Heat at least an inch of Oil in a deep pan until really hot.
  5. Put the Bitter Guard pieces into the hot Oil and fry on high heat until half done.
  6. Halfway through frying add sliced Onion, Coconut, Green Chilly and Curry Leaves.
  7. When the Bitter Guard pieces, Onion and Coconut slices attain a golden brown color take them out with a slotted spoon after draining most of the Oil. Let the excess Oil drain on a paper towel.
  8. Serve hot with cooked Rice.
Notes:
  • Salt helps to pull the bitter liquid from the Bitter Guard and squeezing the liquid off  will reduce its bitterness. If you are planning to skip this procedure, please reduce the amount of Salt added.
  • There will be a lot of splattering while frying if there is Water content in the Bitter Guard pieces.
  • If you try to deep fry all the ingredients together in the first place, the Onion will burn before the Bitter Guard pieces are fried. So give the Bitter Guard a head start and add the rest of the ingredients half way through the frying.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan while deep frying; this may result in the over absorption of Oil. Do let the Bitter Guard pieces immerse fully in the Oil to ensure even frying.







Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and
serve it to your family with love….

10 comments:

Reshmi Mahesh said...

My H will love it...Looks delicious...

Julie said...

Delicious pavakka fry..I love these a lot!! Do check out at my space if time permits for the baked bitter gourd...

Tina said...

Delicious fry...

Sobha Shyam said...

delicious and absolutely yummy karela fry..glad to follow u..do drop at my space too..

Priya Suresh said...

Yum yum, inviting fry..

Jaisy James said...

healthy fry perfect with rice

Faseela said...

Looks delicious

Happy 2 follow u........please do visit my space

Kurryleaves said...

love to have this with rice ,,,,

Indian Khana said...

One of my fav and looks so yum

Sensible Vegetarian said...

Such a healthy one and looks absolutely tasty. You have a nice blog, do visit mine when time permits www.sensibleveg.com

Post a Comment