Pavakka Thoran / Bitter Gourd Stir Fry

The name bitter gourd or bitter melon was derived from its bitter taste trademark. This extremely bitter-tasting veggie is disliked by almost everyone. 

Bitter gourd is a popular vegetable in some Asian countries, where the health benefits of the plant are well-known particularly for its ability to lower blood glucose in diabetics. It contains a lots of vitamins and nutrients and is especially highly beneficial for diabetics for lowering down their blood sugar.

Today’s dish is a thoran, a dry vegetable preparation. It’s a stir fry with some coconut and mild spices. This dish is a common preparation at any household in Kerala, southern India.  As I had mentioned in my earlier posts thoran’s can be made out of any vegetable. Today I have described a thoran made out of bitter gourd.

Ingredients:

Bitter gourd, thinly sliced – 1 cup

Coconut oil/cooking oil – 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds  -  1/4 tsp

Onion chopped- ½ cup

Green chilies, silted- 2 nos

Garlic, chopped – 1 tsp

Curry leaves- few

Cumin powder  -  1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder  - 1/4 tsp

Salt to taste

Grated coconut  -   ¾ cup

Preparation:

Combine together bitter gourd, cumin powder, turmeric powder and salt to taste in a mixing bowl. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, let it splutter. 

Now add onion, green chilies, garlic, curry leaves and fry for 2 minutes. Then add the bitter gourd and sauté for 2 minutes. 

Reduce the heat and cook with lid on for few minutes or until it is almost done. Remove the lid and add grated coconut and mix well. Cook for a minute and then turn off the heat.  

Serve hot with some red rice and mooru curry / yogurt curry.