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Stuffed Karela (Bitter Melon)

Stuffed Karela (Bitter Melon)

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Manjula Jain

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Stuffed Karela (Bitter Melon)

Stuffed Karela (Bitter Melon)

Stuffed karela makes a great side dish to any meal. Karelas have many health benefits including a home remedy for diabetes.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Marinating Time 1 hour
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

For the Marinate:

  • 4 karela bitter melon
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the Filling

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds jeera
  • 1/8 tsp asafetida hing
  • 2 tbsp besan gram flour
  • 1 tbsp coriander powder dhania
  • 1 tbso fennel seed powder saunf
  • 1-1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric haldi
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1-1/2 tbsp mango powder amchoor

For Cooking

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • also need thread to wrap

Instructions
 

Preparing the Kerala

  • Wash karelas thoroughly and using a knife, scrape the skin. Set the scrapes aside.
  • Make a slit in the karelas length wise and remove the seeds. Add karelas and the skin scrapings to a bowl. Mix and sprinkle with salt and lemon juice. Let it marinate for at least an hour.
  • Squeeze the karelas to remove all the marinade. Wash karelas twice with hot water and then squeeze out all the water. Separate the scrapings from the whole karelas.

Preparing the Filling:

  • Heat the oil in a saucepan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if the seed cracks right away, the oil is ready. Add the cumin seeds and asafetida to the oil. After the cumin seeds crack, add the karela scrapings and stir fry for about 2 minutes.
  • Add gram flour (besan) and stir-fry for another minute.
  • Add all the remaining dry spices: coriander powder, fennel powder, turmeric, chili powder, and mango powder. Sauté for a minute and then turn off the heat.
  • Stuff the split karelas with this spice mixture (there should be some spice mix remaining, which will be used later). Tie the karelas with a thread so that the stuffing does not come out while cooking.

Cooking the Stuffed karelas:

  • Add 2 tablespoons of oil in a sauce pan over medium heat. Spread the stuffed karelas in the pan and sprinkle with salt. Cover the pan and let it cook for about 2 minutes.
  • Turn the karelas over to the uncooked side and cook for about 1 minute. Repeat until all four sides of the karelas are cooked.
  • Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water and the remaining spice mixture over the karelas. Cover the pan and let it cook for 2 more minutes.
  • Remove the lid to see if the karelas are tender. Gently turn them over a few more times, making sure they are covered with the spice mixture.

Notes

Notes
Stuffed karela can be served hot or cold and can be refrigerated up to a week.
Variations
For a slightly sweeter taste add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the cooked spice filling, prior to stuffing the karela.
I like to Serve Karela with Urad Dal Tadka, Mixed Dal, Dal Makhini and Rice
Keyword Bitter Melon, Diabetic Friendly, Healthy Side Dish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Comments

41 responses to “Stuffed Karela (Bitter Melon)”

  1. Romi Mendiratta

    Dear Manjula
    I’ve made this recipe Atleast 20 times. I can tell you that this is the best recipe my friends and I have ever come across. Every single time I make so many and they’re wiped clean. So, therefore my heartfelt thanks for this recipe

    1. Manjula Jain

      Thanks I appreciate

  2. sandhya sharma

    Very different and tasty recipe of karela. My family loves karela and I try different recipes of karela. I used to margin ate it with salt only, now I will use lemon too. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Madhu Rees

    This was delicious. I will make it again!

  4. asiya

    I don’t like karela but if karela is made in this way with an amazing stuffing then would definitely become a huge karela fan…

    1. Manjula Jain

      asiya, thank you, do need to try

  5. joyce

    hI Manjula mam please send some more receipes for pickles.

  6. priya

    Made stuffed kerela by your guidance , i forgot to tie it thread but managed to cook any way …….thank you for the such a detailed and perfect recipe …..Hare Krishna…..:)

  7. geetika

    Hello,

    You didn’t mention whether we have to wash marinated scraps and seeds or not

    1. Catherine

      In the video she instructs to wash the seeds and scrapings twice in hot water along with the Karla’s.

      1. Vidooshak

        Lovely recipe. Was very nervous it would be bitter but this came out fabulous!

  8. shalini

    The stuffed karela recipe seems to be very interesting, i would definitely want to give it a try, although im a bit skeptical about using the karela scrappings in the filling, as I feel they are more bitter than the actual whole karela..not sure though

  9. Idli Chutnet

    Can you add a recipe for Papdi…. the flat green beans.
    Thanks
    Idli

  10. mercy

    Hi Manjula,
    This is an excellent recipe. Thank you for explaining while you demonstrate.

    If you do not mind, I like to use the stainsteel frying pan that you use in this video. I have seen you using the same in many recipes. I am trying to do exactly as you do in your kitchen. Would you tell me what kind of pan is used in the video. Normally stainless steel pan stick. Please pardon me for asking on your pan.

    I have tried your tomato chutney. It is one of the favourite dishes in my home now. Thank you again for your website. I would appreciate a reply from you.

  11. savita

    if we also add the chopped onion in the stuffing…it also gives a Delicious flavor…

  12. Aayushi

    Super tasty and healthy ! I added 1 spoon sugar to it and did not tie with thread but it went very well.

    I did not like karela before this recipe. Now I love it.

    Thank you.

  13. Monalisa

    This karela recipe is realy tasty,
    the bitterness was less.
    I never liked karela bub this really tasted good.
    In stuffing u can also add paneer grated ,kaju and kismiss it will add a sweet flovour.
    It would taste really good.
    What say?

  14. Zeenath

    Manjula aunty i just love your videos and the way you explain ever detail thanks a lot for this particular recipe I used a very unhealthy filling earlier but this one is yummy and healthy. i supplemented with the karela seeds while frying the cumin it gave a nice crunch to the filling. this was also in a way inspired by you. your zucchini rice is another major hit with my sons. thank you. will give the cereal chivda a try this week end heres wishing they like it.

  15. parimala

    hello antiji,
    myself n my hubby love ur home made recipes. we tried few recipes before. came out well n yummy. thanku so much. today i tried ur stuffed karela recipe with scrapes. i never heard of adding this. but after i cooked they were very good. my hubby liked them too. i tried so many stuffed karela recipes but we weren’t satisfied. but this recipe is awesome. thanku once again.

  16. nidhi

    autyji ek kewalek ghante marinate karne se karele ka kadwapan nikal jaayega mere husband ko karele ka kadwapan bilkul pasand nahi any tips to totally remove the sourness

  17. RAGINI

    thank you aunty very much for this receipe as i like karela the most

  18. Jesse

    It says 1 & 1/2 tablespoons on the written recipe even though it says teaspoons correctly in the video. These were delicious!

  19. priyanka

    my mom cook karela in the very same way and its delicious but as my bro and father in law dont like the saurness of karela ….after frying the deseeded karelas i generally fill paneer(jeera paneer burji with few coarsly grounded cashew nuts and raisins(saungi)…..)and its really yummmmmm and whoso ever dont like karela love the karela definetly……….and one more tip……my mom add half the paneer and half the khoya………….try it out you will see bittergaurd in new avatar………………………………..
    thanks

  20. RSN

    Namaste Manjula ji, I appreciate your recipe of my favorite vegetable-Karela. My question is how did you remove the thread before serving?
    thank you
    RSN

  21. saisrithamarai

    thank you so much. i have neverknow that making karela in such a easy way.

  22. simran

    i like your all recieps
    thanks a lot manjula ji

  23. Ramya Vijay

    thank you for such a nice recipe. I tried to make it today…and it came out really well. My husband who generally hates eating ‘karela’ , is now loving it…..

  24. poonam sharma

    Dear Manjula Aunty,

    Thax for dis bharva karela

  25. Sabira

    Hello Manjula aunty,

    Thank you for sharing wonderful recipes. I will definitely try them. You look very modern aunty with your new look…

    Best regards,
    Sabira

  26. Meghna

    Hello Manjula Aunty,

    I love your recipes, your passion and style of cooking reminds me of my mother. This is my fav. recipe for Keralas and I make it often eough, but never thought of using scrapes in stuffing. I have used them in other recipes but I will have to try this next time.

    Thanks!
    Meghna

  27. Genie

    Aunty Manjula,

    We love your recipes. Please inform me when you have your cookbook published. I think it will be a great gift idea.

  28. Justin

    Hi manjula aunty!

    In Guyana, we make this same meal but call it kalounji. it is stuffed with shrimp curry sometimes too, but as you are a vegetarian, this meal seems just right. we usually boil the karila in salted water for about 10 minutes to take out the bitterness, but your process seems much easier, because if you over boil it, they become mushy. with the diabetes cure, it is known to lower blood sugar levels, I have not heard of it curing it. My grandparents used to eat the karila raw

  29. Jaya

    Karela (bitter melon) is not a proven treatment for diabetes. It MIGHT help somewhat with the glucose/insulin balance, but it’s not scientifically tested. It is an ayurvedic remedy (not a cure) and if you have diabetes you must continue to receive competent medical care.

    Also, if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes you must continue to monitor your blood sugar levels as recommended by your doctor.

    1. lila

      are you a diabetic, Jaya.. that you know so much about the disease..? or are you a doctor??? I mean, here is someone who is helping us learn and all you can do is preach! please dont carp on this site.. aunty is extremely special… she teaches everything so wonderfully and each dish i have tried from this site turns out perfectly! and my grandpa was a diabetic – he controlled it not thru insulin shots, but a low glycemic index diet & regular doses of karela, jamun and amla! and lived to be 90+! so go figure!

  30. rita

    Thread is not required to tie. You can cut Karela by two sides instead of one. It can keep filling. To tie with thread is absolutely wrong procedure.

  31. harjinder

    hello
    i think if somebody has diabieties they should cook the karela without marinateit because bitterness is more benefit to diabeties patient.

  32. Jimmy Shah

    Dear Manjula Aunty,

    Thank You so much for honoring my request for the recipe of Bitter Melon.

    It’s simply amazing.

    Thank You so much for your help again, I really really appreciate that.

    Regards,

    Jimmy Shah

  33. parshottam mathur

    Thank you for sending this Bitter Melon recipes.I am waiting to know about to cook this.I going to try thank you again

  34. Arathi

    Hello Manjula Aunty, I have been watching ur cooking videos and tried many receipes. In this receipe, don’t we need to remove the thread?
    What kind of thread we have to use?

    Your prompt reply is highly appreciable.

    1. sheetal

      Hey Arathi, I was wondering the same thing, i am sure u need to remove the thread and aunty just forgot to do that, but i am sure the recipie is going to be so good and the thread must have been cooked in the process that eating it will not harm us……………ha ha!

      1. Manjula Jain

        Sheetal and Arathi,
        Sorry, I forgot to take out the thread please remove before serving.

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