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Bharwa Karela is also known as a stuffed bitter gourd. It is a traditional Indian dish that takes the humble bitter gourd and turns it into a flavorful delight. The combination of spices, textures, and flavors in this Bharwa karela recipe will leave you craving for more.

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Bitter gourd, or karela, is a vegetable renowned for its numerous health benefits. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a valuable addition to a nutritious diet.

Table of Contents

About Bharwa Karela Recipe :

The stuffing for Bharwa Karela is a medley of aromatic spices, herbs, and other ingredients that not only balance the bitterness but also enhance the overall flavor profile.

For the Bharwa karela recipe, remove the seeds from the bitter gourd and stuff them with a mixture of spices. The stuffed gourds are then boiled in a cooker. Then cooked in a pan with spices. It is garnished with fresh coriander leaves and served hot as a side dish with roti or rice.

Here we will provide you with a detailed Bharwa Karela recipe, guiding you through each step of the process.

Ingredients:

For the Bharwa Karela recipe, gather the following ingredients:

For stuffing

1 cup roasted Gram flour/besan
2 tbsp fennel
2 tbsp desiccated coconut
1 tsp white sesame seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp coriander powder
1 tbsp dried mango powder
1 tbsp crushed red chili powder
2 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
1 tbsp roasted cumin powder
Coriander leaves
1 tbsp oil

For Bharwa karela

1/2 kg Bitter Guard
1/2 glass water
1-2 spoons of oil
2 tbsp white sesame seeds
Coriander leaves for garnishing

How to make bharwa karela?

Preparing the Bitter Gourd

Begin by washing the bitter gourds thoroughly under running water. With a fresh kitchen towel, pat them dry.

Using a knife, carefully scrape off the rough surface of the bitter gourds. This will help reduce the bitterness.

Make a vertical slit in each bitter gourd and remove the seeds and pith. Ensure that the bitter gourd remains intact and doesn’t break apart.

For stuffing

In the same mixing jar, add 2 tbsp fennel, 2 tbsp desiccated coconut, and 1 tsp white sesame seeds. Grind them and put the mixture on a plate.

Then add 1 tsp turmeric powder, Salt to taste, 2 tbsp coriander powder, 1 tbsp dried mango powder, 1 tbsp crushed red chili powder, 2 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder, and 1 tbsp roasted cumin powder. Mix well.

After that, add Coriander leaves and 1 tbsp oil. Mix well to form a paste.

Take the prepared paste and stuff it into the slit of each bitter gourd. Use your fingers to ensure the paste is evenly distributed.

Cooking the Bharwa Karela

Keep the cooker on the flame and 1/2 glass of water. Then keep a ring and oil-greased strainer.

After that, gently place the prepared bitter gourds in the cooker. Cover with lid and give it 3-4 whistles.

Once the bitter gourds are boiled, carefully take them out.

In a pan, heat 1-2 spoon oil over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp white sesame seeds and let them splutter.

Then carefully place the boiled bitter gourds in the pan and cook them. Turning occasionally to ensure even cooking.

Add turmeric powder, salt to taste, dried mango powder, and Kashmiri red chili powder according to your taste preferences. Mix properly.

Cook on a medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes while stirring it slowly.

The Bharwa Karela is ready. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves to add a burst of freshness and aroma to the dish.

Tips to make perfect Bharwa karela

Select fresh, firm, and medium-sized bitter gourds for the best results.

For the best flavor, use freshly ground spices instead of pre-packaged ones.

While it’s tempting to stuff the bitter gourds generously, avoid overstuffing them as it may lead to uneven cooking. Fill them with the spice mixture just until they are comfortably packed.

Cook the stuffed bitter gourds on medium heat to ensure they cook evenly without burning.

You can try stuffing the bitter gourds with a mixture of paneer, garlic, ginger, mashed potatoes, or even minced meat for a unique variation.

More recipes,

RECIPE CARD

Bharwa Karela Recipe | Stuffed Bitter Gourd

Course: MainCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

The Bharwa karela is a traditional Indian dish that takes the humble bitter gourd and turns it into a flavorful delight. The combination of spices, textures, and flavors in this Bharwa karela recipe will leave you craving for more. Here we will provide you with a detailed Bharwa Karela recipe, guiding you through each step of the process.

Ingredients :

For stuffing
1 cup roasted Gram flour/besan
2 tbsp fennel
2 tbsp desiccated coconut
1 tsp white sesame seeds
1 tsp turmeric powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp coriander powder
1 tbsp dried mango powder
1 tbsp crushed red chili powder
2 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
1 tbsp roasted cumin powder
Coriander leaves
1 tbsp oil
For Bharwa karela
1/2 kg Bitter Guard
1/2 glass water
1-2 spoons of oil
2 tbsp white sesame seeds
Coriander leaves for garnishing

Directions

Preparing the Bitter Gourd
Begin by washing the bitter gourds thoroughly under running water. With a fresh kitchen towel, pat them dry.
Using a knife, carefully scrape off the rough surface of the bitter gourds. This will help reduce the bitterness.
Make a vertical slit in each bitter gourd and remove the seeds and pith. Ensure that the bitter gourd remains intact and doesn’t break apart.
For stuffing
In the same mixing jar, add 2 tbsp fennel, 2 tbsp desiccated coconut, and 1 tsp white sesame seeds. Grind them and put the mixture on a plate.
Then add 1 tsp turmeric powder, Salt to taste, 2 tbsp coriander powder, 1 tbsp dried mango powder, 1 tbsp crushed red chili powder, 2 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder, and 1 tbsp roasted cumin powder. Mix well.
After that, add Coriander leaves and 1 tbsp oil. Mix well to form a paste.
Take the prepared paste and stuff it into the slit of each bitter gourd. Use your fingers to ensure the paste is evenly distributed.
Cooking the Bharwa Karela
Keep the cooker on the flame and 1/2 glass of water. Then keep a ring and oil-greased strainer.
After that, gently place the prepared bitter gourds in the cooker. Cover with lid and give it 3-4 whistles.
Once the bitter gourds are boiled, carefully take them out.
In a pan, heat 1-2 spoon oil over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp white sesame seeds and let them splutter.
Then carefully place the boiled bitter gourds in the pan and cook them. Turning occasionally to ensure even cooking.
Add turmeric powder, salt to taste, dried mango powder, and Kashmiri red chili powder according to your taste preferences. Mix properly.
Cook on a medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes while stirring it slowly.
The Bharwa Karela is ready. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves to add a burst of freshness and aroma to the dish.

Notes

Select fresh, firm, and medium-sized bitter gourds for the best results.
For the best flavor, use freshly ground spices instead of pre-packaged ones.
While it’s tempting to stuff the bitter gourds generously, avoid overstuffing them as it may lead to uneven cooking. Fill them with the spice mixture just until they are comfortably packed.
Cook the stuffed bitter gourds on medium heat to ensure they cook evenly without burning.
You can try stuffing the bitter gourds with a mixture of paneer, garlic, ginger, mashed potatoes, or even minced meat for a unique variation.

Your feedback matters! We encourage you to share your thoughts on this Bharwa Karela recipe. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Images by, Masala Kitchen – https://youtu.be/gfIIxquad5o