KARATHYA THUMBALI / BITTER GOURD CHUTNEY/Hagala kayi Chutney/ Karela Chutney.

Bitter gourd is called Karathae in Konkani.Bitter gourd is good for controlling diabetics.Karathae Thumbali is an excellent side dish and is a nutritional recipe that goes well with steamed Rice.It is a very simple and very tasty dish.This Bitter gourd Chutney is prepared using grated Coconut, fried Bitter gourd,, roasted Urad dal, roasted Red chillies adding Tamarind.No jaggery or Sweet is used in this recipe. The Chutney tastes too good and awesome. You actually do not come to know the bitter taste in it.Bitter gourd is one of the best among healthy vegetables.Bitter gourd is good for maintaing insulin.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare this delicious Bitter gourd Chutney.

Ingredients :-

Bitter gourd. - 1medium size
Salt.              - 1 tsp to marinate
Coconut oil.  -  for frying

For grinding:-

Grated Coconut. -1 cup
Red chillies.       - 6
Urad dal .           -3tsp
Hing powder .    -1 tsp
Tamarind.           - a big gooseberry size
Salt.                    - to taste
Water.                 - a little
Coconut oil.         - 1tsp for roasting

For Seasoning :-

Coconut oil.     -1tsp
Mustard seeds. -1tsp
Urad dal.          -1tsp

Instructions:-

Wash Bitter gourd and wipe dry with a clean cloth.Cut the Bitter gourd length wise and remove all seeds.Then chop into thin slices.Apply 1tsp Salt to the Bitter gourd slices and keep aside for 5 minutes.Squeeze the Bitter gourd slices with your hand to reduce the bitterness and keep aside.

Soak a big gooseberry size Tamarind  in water for 5 minutes and keep aside.

Method:-

Heat Coconut oil in a frying pan and add the squeezed Bitter gourd slices and fry them in oil until turns golden brown in colour. Remove from oil and keep aside the fried Bitter gourd slices.

Heat a pan with 1tsp Coconut oil and roast 6 Red chillies, 3tsp Urad dal and 1tsp Hing powder on low flame.Switch off the flame and let the above roasted ingredients to cool down.

Grind the fried Bitter gourd slices along with grated Coconut, roasted Red chillies, roasted Urad dal, Hing powder, soaked Tamarind and required Salt to a little coarse paste adding very little water.Keep aside the coarsely ground Bitter gourd paste,

Heat 1tsp Coconut oil in a pan and splutter 1tsp Mustard seeds.Add 1tsp Urad dal and roast till the Urad dal changes to golden colour.

Add the coarsely ground Bitter gourd paste into the pan and mix well on low flame till the water evaporates and it becomes thick.Switch off the flame.

A tasty and yummy Bitter gourd Chutney/ Karathya Thambali is ready to serve with hot steamed rice.Store the Bitter gourd Chutney in a glass bottle with lid and keep it in a refrigerator and stays good for few more days.