Karela na Ravaiya
Author: 
Cuisine: Gujarati
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
I have learned this recipe of stuffed bitter melons from my sister-in-law Ushabhabhi.
Ingredients
  • 5 to 6 small karela (Indian bitter melons)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon brown mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for garnish
Stuffing:
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium shallot, roughly chopped
  • 1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, roughly chopped
  • 1 inch of piece ginger, roughly chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala
  • ¼ cup chickpea flour
  • 2 tablespoons ground peanuts (optional)
  • ¼ cup dhana-jeeru (spice blend of ground coriander and cumin)
  • 3 teaspoons salt or to taste
  • 6 teaspoons sugar or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon aamchoor (dry mango powder)
Directions
  1. Wash and pat dry karela. Cut ¼ inch of both ends and peel the rough skip. Keep the skin aside. Cut karela in half and scoop out the pulp with seeds. Discard the big seeds and combine the pulp with saved skin.
  2. In a food processor, pulse shallot until finely minced.
  3. In small pan, heat one tablespoon olive oil on medium heat. Add shallots and pinch of salt. Let shallot caramelize on low heat until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  4. While shallot is cooking, add skin and pulp of karela, garlic, green pepper, and ginger in food processor bowl. Pulse until finely minced.
  5. Once shallot is brown, add above mixture and garam masala. Stir everything and let it cook for 2 minutes. Let it cool down for 10 to 15 minutes.
  6. Combine rest of the stuffing ingredients and remaining olive oil in a medium mixing bowl. Add cooled mixture and combine. Stuff melon halves with stuffing. If any stuffing remains, keep it aside.
  7. In a large non-stick pan, heat oil on a medium high heat, about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle. Add mustard seeds and let them sizzle. Lower the heat and arrange stuffed melon halves in a pan in a single layer. Increase heat to medium, cover the pan and let melon cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle any remaining stuffing on top of the vegetables during half way of cooking.
  8. Garnish with cilantro before serving. Serve warm with any Indian flat bread.
Notes
Karela is extremely bitter. If you want to remove some of the bitterness, before cooking it, sprinkle about teaspoon of salt on them and transfer them to a colander. Transfer colander to baking dish or a pan to catch drippings. Let karela stand for 30 minutes to an hour and proceed with the recipe.
Recipe by Lovely Masala at http://www.lovelymasala.com/ravaiya-bharelu-shaak/