One more simple dish for bitter gourd lovers. My mom makes this with small baby bitter gourds, but we don’t get them here and I have used regular ones. The addition of channa dal takes some of the bitterness away. Boiling the chopped bittergourd in tamarind juice will also take away some of the bitterness. Either way this + rasam is a comforting food which reminds me of home.

Ingredients
1 tsp oil
mustard
curry leaves
1 small onion
2 cups bitter gourd chopped
1/4 cup channa dal cooked
1/2 – 1 tsp sambar powder (can use chilly powder also)
Salt to taste

Method
Lets get the ingredients together. Cook the channa dal separately. You can cook it in the microwave or pressure cooker. Soaking it before cooking reduces cooking time.

Next heat a pan and add 1 tsp of oil. Season with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add onions and saute until it is cooked.

Next add the chopped bitter gourd and sambar powder. Add salt to taste.

Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Sprinkle water if necessary. Now add the cooked channa dal.

Cook for another 10 minutes or until it is done. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Tasty bitter gourd fry ready to be served. This is what I call “comfort in a bowl”.

Enjoy!

Tips
1. You can add extra oil and fry to get crisper bitter gourd.