bharwa karela recipe | stuffed karela recipe | bharva karele | karela ka bharwa with detailed photo and video recipe. a classical and traditional gravy based curry recipe made with a blend of spices stuffed to baby bitter gourds. it is an ideal north indian gravy recipe which is not just limited to roti and chapati, but also can be served with rice variants. the recipe is prepared with the same ingredients and spices as bharwa baingan but has a unique flavour and taste due to bitter gourd.
there are myriad ways this recipe can be made and the gravy based is one such recipe. it can be made as a dry variant or as a gravy version as showed in this recipe. both these variants have a huge fan following and are made for different purposes. for instance, the dry variant can be consumed as a snack or served as a side to rice-based lunch or dinner. i personally like the dry variant for my rasam rice or sambar rice combination. whereas the gravy version is ideal for roti and chapati or even as a substitute to sambar. i generally make the spice powder required for stuffing in bulk and use it in various vegetables. however, when it is used against bitter gourd, it gives an ideal taste combo with a hint of bitter in it.
furthermore, some more additional tips, suggestions and variants to the spicy and tasty stuffed karela recipe. firstly, this recipe is ideally made with baby bitter gourds as it is easy to stuff small quantity and also easy to cook. having said that, it may be tricky to get these and hence you may opt for the small bitter gourds if you have access to. secondly, i have not removed any skin and used as it is. removing the skin may help to lessen the bitterness taste in the curry, but i personally recommend to use it as it is. lastly, if you do not like the gravy version you may very well prepare it as a dry variant. use the same stuffing spice powder but skip the onion and tomato paste. you may need more oil to fry these as it may stick to bottom otherwise.
finally, i request you to check my other related curry recipes collection with this post of bharva karele recipe. it mainly includes my other related recipes like meal maker curry, onion curry, dahi bhindi, matar paneer, mirchi ka salan, karela, paneer ki sabji, veg tawa fry, papaya s, salna. further to these i would also like to mention my other related recipe categories like,
bharwa karela video recipe:
recipe card for stuffed karela recipe:
bharwa karela recipe | stuffed karela recipe | bharva karele | karela ka bharwa
Ingredients
for soaking:
- 9 bitter gourd / karela
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric
- water, for soaking
for masala stuffing:
- 2 tsp oil
- 2 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tbsp sesame
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
- ¼ cup peanut, roasted
- 3 tbsp dry coconut, sliced
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- small ball sized tamarind
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
for curry:
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp cumin
- pinch hing
- few curry leaves
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2 tomato, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp jaggery
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped
Instructions
how to remove bitterness from karela:
- firstly, slit the karela and remove the seeds. removing the seeds will create room for stuffing and also reduce bitterness.
- sprinkle 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp turmeric.
- soak in water for 20 minutes. this helps to reduce bitterness.
how to prepare masala for stuffing:
- firstly, in a pan heat 2 tsp oil.
- add 2 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 tbsp sesame and 1 tsp poppy seeds.
- roast on low flame until the spices turn aromatic.
- now add ¼ cup peanut, 3 tbsp dry coconut and roast until it turns crunchy.
- cool completely and transfer to mixi.
- add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, small ball sized tamarind and ½ tsp salt.
- blend to a coarse paste without adding any water.
- transfer the masala powder to the pan, add ½ onion and 2 tbsp coriander.
- mix well making sure everything is well combined.
- now take the karela and stuff the masala into it. keep aside.
how to prepare stuffed bitter gourd curry:
- firstly, in a large kadai heat 3 tbsp oil. splutter 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp cumin, pinch hing and few curry leaves.
- add 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and saute well.
- keeping the flame on low add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp garam masala.
- saute until the spices turn aromatic.
- now add 2 tomato and saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
- add in stuffed karela and cook for a minute.
- also add 2 tbsp jaggery, ½ tsp salt and 1 cup water.
- stir well adjusting consistency as required.
- cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until karela gets cooked well.
- finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy bharwa karela with roti or phulka.
Nutrition
how to make bharwa karela with step by step photo:
how to remove bitterness from karela:
- firstly, slit the karela and remove the seeds. removing the seeds will create room for stuffing and also reduce bitterness.
- sprinkle 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp turmeric.
- soak in water for 20 minutes. this helps to reduce bitterness.
how to prepare masala for stuffing:
- firstly, in a pan heat 2 tsp oil.
- add 2 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2 tbsp sesame and 1 tsp poppy seeds.
- roast on low flame until the spices turn aromatic.
- now add ¼ cup peanut, 3 tbsp dry coconut and roast until it turns crunchy.
- cool completely and transfer to mixi.
- add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, small ball sized tamarind and ½ tsp salt.
- blend to a coarse paste without adding any water.
- transfer the masala powder to the pan, add ½ onion and 2 tbsp coriander.
- mix well making sure everything is well combined.
- now take the karela and stuff the masala into it. keep aside.
how to prepare stuffed bitter gourd curry:
- firstly, in a large kadai heat 3 tbsp oil. splutter 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp cumin, pinch hing and few curry leaves.
- add 1 onion, 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and saute well.
- keeping the flame on low add ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp garam masala.
- saute until the spices turn aromatic.
- now add 2 tomato and saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy.
- add in stuffed karela and cook for a minute.
- also add 2 tbsp jaggery, ½ tsp salt and 1 cup water.
- stir well adjusting consistency as required.
- cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until karela gets cooked well.
- finally, add 2 tbsp coriander and enjoy bharwa karela with roti or phulka.
notes:
- firstly, make sure to remove the seeds else the curry will taste bitter.
- also, adjust the amount of jaggery depending on the bitterness.
- additionally, if you have leftover masala stuffing then you can add to the curry.
- finally, bharwa karela recipe tastes great when served slightly spicy.