Bitter Gourd Thokku

Bitter Gourd Thokku

It's a spicy, tangy thokku with a hint of sweetness. A yummy way to eat the "BITTER" bitter gourd. 

Ingredients:

Bitter gourd - 1 (big) 

Small onions - 25 gms 

Tomato - 1

Garlic - 3 cloves 

Tamarind - Half lemon-sized

Warm water - 150 ml

Salt - 1 tsp + ¼ tsp (divided) 

Oil - 5 tbsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp 

Green Chillies - 1

Fennel seeds- 1/4 tsp

Curry Leaves - 1 sprig

Jaggery - 10 - 15 gms 

Chilli powder - 1/2 tbsp

Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Fennel powder - 1/4 tsp

Method:

1. First, slit the bitter gourd, discard the seeds, and chop it finely. Add 1/4 tsp salt to it, mix well and keep it aside for 10 mins. Soak the tamarind in warm water for 10 mins. Mash the garlic slightly. Chop the onions and tomato and slit the green chillies. 

2. Later wash the bitter gourd and drain any excess water. Add chilli powder, Coriander powder, turmeric powder, fennel powder and 1tsp salt to it and mix well. 

3. Heat the Kadai, add oil, mustard and fennel seeds. Let it splatter. Next add onions, garlic and green chilles and cook till the onions turn golden brown. Then add the bitter gourd mixture and sauté for a couple of minutes. Add in the chopped tomatoes and stir for 5 minutes or until the raw smell goes and oil separates. 

4. Next filter and add the tamarind extract water and let it boil for 5 minutes. Finally crush and add the Jaggery, and let it cook until the mixture thickens and oil separates. 

Note:

1. My 5 tbsp oil is a mixture of groundnut oil and gingelly oil.