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Pavakka Fry | Bitter Gourd Fry | Bitter Melon Vegetarian Side


The past year has been an eye opener to new vegtables in my life, pavakka/ bitter gourd is one of them. I have learnt to have them and like them for their goodness. Surprisingly I can happily say that I used to be someone who used to run the other direction if I knew there was pavakka in the menu. But we all do grow out of fears and I sure did. I have some pavakka recipes featured in here - Pavakka Puli Kuzhambhu & Pavakka Stir Fry, today I plan to share a Pavakkai fry, don't be put off by the word fry, I did not use 1/2 ltr oil to fry :P its just a way less portion of oil. But the reason I have termed it as 'fry' is because of its crisp texture



PAVAKKA FRY RECIPE

Serves ~ 3 generously
Cook & Prep time ~ 30 mins
Recipe Source ~ Own

Ingredients

Pavakka/ Bitter Melon - 1/4 kg, 8 small/2 long 
Red chili powder - 1 and 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Cumin powder - 3/4 tsp
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Rice Flour - 1 tsp
Gram/ Besan flour - 1 tsp
Salt to taste 
Oil for partial fry - 3 tbsp

Method
  • Wash and chop bitter melon wipe with kitchen cloth and slice thinly. If you want you can discard the seeds (optional). 
  • In a medium bowl add all the spice powders except the flour - rice and besan, mix well with salt and add the chopped bittermelon to them and toss such that the masala sticks well to the slices.
  • Set aside for 10 minutes and heat oil in a pan, just before frying them add the rice flour and besan four mix well and fry the slices in batches. 
  • Make sure you give enough time for them to fry on both sides for atleast 3-4 minutes undisturbed. 
  • Using a slotted spoon take the fried slices and drain them on a kitchen towel to remove excess oil
  • Store in a air tight container to maintain crispiness.
Serve along with rice and your favorite curry



Cooks Wisdom

- Make sure you are not in a hurry while doing this recipe, you need patience if you want them crisp, so make sure you engage in other things while the pavakka is frying.
- Make sure oil is not too hot else the bitter melon slices will not get cooked well
- This fry gives mildly bitter pavakka if partially fried but if well fried it will not taste bitter
- Make sure you add the rice flour and gram flour just before frying them, do not add too much of it too
- Frying them with seeds is totally optional

36 comments:

  1. Very lovely Priya, thanks for tips. The color of the pavakka fry looks fab. Thank you very much for sharing.

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  2. Yummy and tasty bitter gourd fry as a side of dal-rice. Simply superb sister.

    today's post:
    http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.in/2013/04/2-minutes-eggless-chocolate-cake.html

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  3. i too made these once :)like them to have this way :) lovely clicks and delicious looking bitter gourd fry dear :) tempting me !!

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  4. Crunchy pavakai fry.................

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  5. tempting clicks...this recipe sounds quite interesting:)

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  6. Crunchy and healthy recipe.. Wish to have this with my curd rice.. Parcel it for me dear..

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  7. Crispy and crunchy looking bitter gourd. My favourite veggie. Excellent preparation.
    Deepa

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  8. Yummy good looking fry. nice clicks

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  9. Love this pavakka fry da.. Perfectly made.. Paruppu rice with ghee and this pavakka fry is my favorite combo..

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  10. nice way of cooking bittergourd.

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  11. karela looks so temtping, feel like just take one slice and put it in my mouth.

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  12. love this crunchy bittergourd.lipsmacking side.

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  13. Hey pictures r superb classic dee:) my favouriteeeeee

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  14. Never get bored of this fry, its been a while i prepared, i can have it just like an evening snacks..Very tempting.

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  15. amma makes dis often..very healthy n dis luks really awesum.
    maha

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  16. WOW Priya, this recipe reminded me of my mom's recipe :)
    She makes it in the same way !!!
    Love to have it with yellow moong dal !!

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  17. your second pic is perfect...could feel the taste from here...am a pavakka fan and i am loving it

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  18. Looks so crispy and delicious..

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  19. Crunchy and spicy, looks yummy Priya.

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  20. looks sooo tempting n delicious....

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  21. I never deep fried bitter gourd. Your clicks are so tempting! :)

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  22. tempting stir fry with less oil, love it dear...

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  23. Fry looks fabulous dear great clicks too...love to have this with rasam rice whoo...

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  24. never added besan with karela da.. liked your method..

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  25. im loving this eventhough im not a fan of karela...

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  26. I love these, I have them with dal chawal :)

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  27. If it's made like this, I would finish in no no time...crispy n yum

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  28. I still havent grown out of my dislike for bitter gourd, but your recipe is tempting! If only I get over the bitter taste..

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  29. on of my fav veggie..looks great

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  30. Bitterguard is always healthy.love it.

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  31. Happy to be your follower.

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Thank you for visiting, I hope you enjoyed my recipes :-) In case you have tried any of the recipes featured here, do let me know in the comment section. For any other queries email me - cooklikepriya(at)gmail.com

Love,
Priya Ranjit

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