Stuffed Karela or Bitter Gourd

Stuffed Karela or Bitter Gourd is a mix of bitterness imparted by the bitter gourd and the other flavours imparted by the stuffing made from prawns, onions, tomatoes and grated coconut. When we were young, my eldest brother used to eat only the stuffing and leave the bitter gourd on his plate. Now that he is diabetic, he eats it all! ;) The bitter gourd is said to be good for diabetics.

Stuffed Bitter Gourd or Karelas

Ingredients:
5 bitter gourds
3 onions, chopped fine
3 tomatoes, chopped fine
2 green chillies, chopped fine
1 cup prawns, cleaned and deveined
1 tbspn vinegar
1/2 tspn magic masala
5 tbspns grated coconut
2 tbspns oil
salt to taste
a pinch of sugar
Oil for frying

Method:

• Bring enough water to boil in a vessel so that the karelas/bitter gourds will be submerged.
• You make scrape the karelas with a knife if you wish but this is optional.
• Lower the bitter gourds into the boiling water.
• Cover and let simmer till they are slightly cooked; the green color changes to a different shade and can be slit open with ease.
• Drain and let cool.
• Then slit open each karela longitudinally.
• For the stuffing :
• Apply salt to the prawns.
• Heat the oil in a non-stick vessel.
• Add the onion and fry some.
• Add the prawns, vinegar, sugar, magic masala and stir and cover for some time.
•  When prawns are cooked, take off fire and add grated coconut and let cool.
• Stuff the karelas with this mixture and tie with some string to hold it in place.
• Shallow fry on a non-stick griddle turning on all sides until well done.