SPICY KARELA CHUTNEY (STORABLE)
FRIENDS, Spicy karela chutney is one more addition to the storable Chutney series.
In my previous posts, I had shown you to make tomato and onion chutneys.
This is one of the healthiest chutneys which can be made very easily.
Many people who suffer from Diabetes, have a practice of drinking Karela or Bitter gourd juice.
After making the juice, the residue left can be used to make this type of chutney.
Even we can use the normal whole karela (Bitter gourd) to make a very healthy, tasty, and Spicy chutney.
FRIENDS, Bitter gourd, though bitter in taste, when balanced with salt, chilly, tamarind, and jaggery, gives a very yummy taste, which everyone likes.
BITTER GOURD OR KARELA IS A WONDERFUL VEGETABLE AND IS VERY NUTRITIOUS AND HAS A NUMBER OF HEALTH BENEFITS.
I would like to mention some of them before starting the recipe.
- Bitter gourd has a number of vitamins like A, B1, B2, B3, B9, and C, and Minerals like Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Phosphorous, Potassium & Calcium.
- It has Anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
- It is liver-friendly and Detoxifies, so good for Alcohol Hangovers.
- It is an excellent source of Dietary Fiber.
- Bitter gourd contains Plant based Insulin, which helps in Maintaining Blood sugar levels.
- It helps in lowering bad cholesterol levels, thus Reducing the risk of Heart attack and Stroke.
- It helps in reducing Acne and helps in treating Eczema and Psoriasis.
- It preventspremature skin agingand diminishes Wrinkles.
- It helps in weight loss as it is low in calories, fat, and carbohydrates
- It strengthens immunity and also prevents Allergies and indigestion.
- It reduces the risk of Prostate, Breast, and Cervical cancers.
- It helps in preventing vision-related problems such as cataracts.
After knowing about the nutritional facts, you will definitely want to use it in your meal.
Karela or Bitter gourd is used in many forms as, crispy chips (link given after the post), karela gravy, stuffed karela, and karela sabzi. karela chutney etc.
Let us see the necessary ingredients needed for making this SPICY KARELA CHUTNEY
INGREDIENTS:
- Bitter gourd-500 grams
- Tamarind-80-100 grams
- Jaggery-100 grams (or less)
- Oil-3-4 tablespoon
- Red chilly powder-1.5 -2 teaspoon
- Salt-1 teaspoon
- Turmeric powder-3/4 teaspoon
- Mustard seeds-1 teaspoon
- Asafoetida( Hing)-1/2 teaspoon
- Roasted cumin, Fenugreek, and Black pepper powder-1.5 teaspoons (1/2 spoon each)
PREPARATIONS TO BE DONE FOR MAKING SPICY KARELA CHUTNEY
- Wash and cut the karela into pieces, removing seeds and head and tail portions.
- Now put it in a blender adding salt. (no water for grinding)
- At this stage, you can squeeze the juice if you need and use the residue for chutney, otherwise, use it as it is.
- Soak the tamarind in hot water to get the extract.
- Roast 1/2 spoon each of cumin. methi and black peppercorns. Make powder.
METHOD OF MAKING YUMMY SPICY KARELA CHUTNEY
- Take oil in a thick bottom pan and heat on a low flame.
- When the Oil is hot, add mustard seeds, and let it crackle.
- Add hing to that.
- Now add the ground bitter gourd paste and saute.
- After the bitter gourd becomes a little soft, add Red chili powder, Turmeric powder, and roasted powders.
- Now add tam extract and jaggery and let it cook for 3-4 mts.
- You will see the oil present in the chutney starts oozing out.
- You can correct the taste at this stage by adding salt, jaggery, or tam extract.
SPICY KARELA CHUTNEY IS NOW READY TO BE USED OR STORED FOR FUTURE
NOTE: Cool it and store it in an air-tight glass jar to use it whenever you want to.
Can use with Hot Rice, chapati, and Roti.
you can make similar storable chutneys, see the recipes in the link below.
