Karela ka bhunjia ( stir fried bitter gourd )

This is a Bihari dish!
This is a side dish and many may not like karela because of its bitterness,but  people who like it will find it crispy and delicious to eat.
You will still get a little bitter taste when you take a bite but when eaten with roti and dal or mixed with rice and arhar dal. It is delicious!

Ingredients:
Karela or bitter gourd- 300 gms or 6 small to medium size,
Onion-2 medium size,
Whole red chilli-1-broken,
Turmeric pwd-1/4 tsp,
Salt to taste,
Mustard oil- 2 tbsp.

Method:
Wash and chop off the ends of each karela.

Slice the karela into thin slices,less then 1/4 inch.

Finely slice the onions and keep aside in a plate.

Heat oil a kadhai or non stick skillet.
Pour 2 tbsp of oil.

As oil heats up,add red chilli broken into half.

As the chilli is fried,add the sliced karelas.

Add salt and turmeric pwd.

Mix and cover with a lid and then lower the heat.

Let the karelas cook for 10 minutes.

Open after 10 minutes, toss the karela with a wooden spoon and check the tenderness.

Cover again for 5 minutes if not tender.

If the karela is tender after 10 minutes then you don`t need to cover for 5 minutes.
Remove the cover and raise the heat to high.

Keep tossing the karelas  every 2 minutes to make them evenly brown. ( it will take 5 to 7 minutes-  you can lower the heat to medium in between )

Add the sliced onions and toss till the onions are soft and lightly fried too ( 5 minutes ).

Close gas.

Serve it with hot roti,dal or rice and arhar dal and mango pickle.
This is a side dish.

Serves 4