Skip to main content
Bharwa Karela Recipe

Time and servings

Nutrition

Per servings.

​
Ingredients

​
for soaking:

  • 9 bitter gourd / karela
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • water (for soaking)

​
for masala stuffing:

  • 2 tsp oil
  • 2 tsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp sesame
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds
  • ¼ cup peanut (roasted)
  • 3 tbsp dry coconut (sliced)
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • small ball sized tamarind
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 tbsp coriander (finely chopped)

​
for curry:

  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • pinch hing
  • few curry leaves
  • 1 onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • ½ tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 2 tomato (finely chopped)
  • 2 tbsp jaggery
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp coriander (finely chopped)

​
Instructions

​
how to remove bitterness from karela:

  1. firstly, slit the karela and remove the seeds. removing the seeds will create room for stuffing and also reduce bitterness.
  2. sprinkle 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp turmeric.
  3. soak in water for 20 minutes. this helps to reduce bitterness.

​
how to prepare masala for stuffing:

  1. firstly, in a pan heat 2 tsp oil.
  2. add 2 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 tbsp sesame and 1 tsp poppy seeds.
  3. roast on low flame until the spices turn aromatic.
  4. now add ¼ cup peanut, 3 tbsp dry coconut and roast until it turns crunchy.
  5. cool completely and transfer to mixi.
  6. add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, small ball sized tamarind and ½ tsp salt.
  7. blend to a coarse paste without adding any water.
  8. transfer the masala powder to the pan, add ½ onion and 2 tbsp coriander.
  9. mix well making sure everything is well combined.
  10. now take the karela and stuff the masala into it. keep aside.

​
how to prepare stuffed bitter gourd curry:

  1. firstly, in a large kadai heat 3 tbsp oil. splutter 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp cumin, pinch hing and few curry leaves.
  2. add 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and saute well.
  3. keeping the flame on low add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp garam masala.
  4. saute until the spices turn aromatic.
  5. now add 2 tomato and saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
  6. add in stuffed karela and cook for a minute.
  7. also add 2 tbsp jaggery, ½ tsp salt and 1 cup water.
  8. stir well adjusting consistency as required.
  9. cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until karela gets cooked well.
  10. finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy bharwa karela with roti or phulka.

​
How to prepare masala for stuffing

1
firstly, in a pan heat 2 tsp oil.
2
add 2 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 tbsp sesame and 1 tsp poppy seeds.
3
roast on low flame until the spices turn aromatic.
4
now add ¼ cup peanut, 3 tbsp dry coconut and roast until it turns crunchy.
5
cool completely and transfer to mixi.
6
add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, small ball sized tamarind and ½ tsp salt.
7
blend to a coarse paste without adding any water.
8
transfer the masala powder to the pan, add ½ onion and 2 tbsp coriander.
9
mix well making sure everything is well combined.
10
now take the karela and stuff the masala into it. keep aside.

​
How to prepare stuffed bitter gourd curry

1
firstly, in a large kadai heat 3 tbsp oil. splutter 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp cumin, pinch hing and few curry leaves.
2
add 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and saute well.
3
keeping the flame on low add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp garam masala.
4
saute until the spices turn aromatic.
5
now add 2 tomato and saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
6
add in stuffed karela and cook for a minute.
7
also add 2 tbsp jaggery, ½ tsp salt and 1 cup water.
8
stir well adjusting consistency as required.
9
cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until karela gets cooked well.
10
finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy bharwa karela with roti or phulka.stuffed karela recipe

​
How to remove bitterness from karela

  1. firstly, slit the karela and remove the seeds. removing the seeds will create room for stuffing and also reduce bitterness.
  2. sprinkle 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp turmeric.
  3. soak in water for 20 minutes. this helps to reduce bitterness.

​
Video

​
Notes

  • firstly, make sure to remove the seeds else the curry will taste bitter.
  • also, adjust the amount of jaggery depending on the bitterness.
  • additionally, if you have leftover masala stuffing then you can add to the curry.
  • finally, bharwa karela recipe tastes great when served slightly spicy.
Original recipe by Hebbar’s Kitchen: https://hebbarskitchen.com/bharwa-karela-stuffed-karela-recipe-2/