I do have a few strange taste buds which happen to love bitter gourd, but only when made the way my mom makes it…

The name of this vegetable says it all, it’s terribly bitter. Don’t even think of eating this vegetable raw, you will need lots of sugar than you think to have your mouth back to normal. However, this bitter vegetable is packed with amazing nutrients and is excellent for diabetic patients. Juice of bitter gourd has been used as a home remedy for many diseases.

If you are diabetic, you should seriously consider including bitter gourd in your diet as bitter Gourd contains a hypoglycemic compound that helps in lowering the sugar levels in blood and urine. The most effective way is to drink bitter gourd juice in the morning on empty stomach to keep the diabetes in control. I know it sucks, but you have to do it for the sake of your health.

Bitter gourd is widely available in India. It is used in Indian cooking a lot regardless of its bitterness just for the nutrients it has. When my mom makes bitter gourd at home, she used to cook in such a way that the bitterness of this vegetable was covered by adding tamarind juice and jaggery to it.

The amazing thing about this dish is that you get to enjoy all possible tastes from this dish: bitterness, sweetness, tanginess and spiciness.

Bitter Gourd Roast: the way my mom makes it

Ingredients:

  • Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
  • Onions, chopped- 2 small
  • Tomato, chopped- 2 small
  • Bitter gourd, chopped, deseeded- 2
  • Chilly powder- 2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
  • Cumin powder- 1 tsp
  • Coriander powder- 1 tsp
  • Tamarind juice, fresh- 3 tbsp, soak a golf size tamarind in 1/4 cup warm water
  • Jaggery or brown sugar- 1 tbsp
  • Curry leaves- 1 sprig
  • Salt- to taste
  • Oil- 1 tbsp

Preparation:

  • If using fresh tamarind juice: soak a golf size tamarind in 1/4 cup warm water, mash the tamarind in water to get the juice out of it using your fingers. Strain the juice from the seeds and skin.
  • Heat a wide pan over medium heat, add the oil and add mustard seeds, let it splutter.
  • Add the onions along with little salt and saute till tender.
  • Add the curry leaves to the onions.
  • Add the tomatoes and cook till it turns mashed.

  • Now, add the chopped bitter gourd and cook covered till the bitter gourd turns tender.

  • After the bitter gourd turns tender, add chilly powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder and coriander powder.
  • Saute, add the tamarind juice and jaggery or brown sugar to the cooked bitter gourd.
  • Cover the pan and cook for another 10-15 minutes by adding little water to it to prevent the roast from burning.

  • Taste it and add more jaggery or brown sugar, tamarind juice if you need.
  • Combine everything and when all the water has evaporated, transfer to a serving bowl.

  • This could be served as a side dish along with plain rice or rotis.

Note:

  • If you are using concentrated tamarind paste, don’t add 3tbsp of it, use less may be 1/2-1 tsp or according to your needs.

Tips:

  • Bitter gourd is available in almost all Indian stores, if not fresh you could find frozen ones.
  • Remove the seeds from the bitter gourd and chop it.
  • This dish is not completely bitter free.
  • Jaggery or brown sugar and tamarind juice will give a sweet and tangy taste to this dish.