Have you ever come across these tiny karelas... they are called kasara kayalu in Telugu. I have seen them only in Andhra Pradesh. We get them mostly around monsoon season heaps of them sold in carts. Surprisingly they are not available through out the year.
This is a simple dry preparation of these karelas. usually in Andhra they add a lot of chilli powder to this stir fry but I have made it milder. You may add onions or skip them.This preparation goes well with thin jowar rotis.
Ingredients:
Baby karelas ... 200 gms
Onion ........... 1 (sliced)
Garlic ........... 3-4 cloves (crushed)
Turmeric powder .. 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder .. 1/2 tsp
Chilli powder ......... 1/2 tsp (adjust as per your liking)
Tamarind juice ... 1-2 tbsps
Jaggery ... 1 tsp (crushed)
Salt .......... to taste
Oil ......... 2 tbsps
Coriander leaves .. for garnishing
For tempering:
Mustard seeds .. 1 tsp
Asafoetida ....... 1 pinch
Curry leaves .... few
Method:
1. Wash the karelas and snip off the two ends. Wipe them dry with a kitchen towel.
2. In a griddle dry roast the karelas (no oil ) for 5-7 minutes turning them until they get roasted evenly. Remove them and set aside.
3. Heat oil in a sauce pan and add the tempering ingredients.
4. When they crackle, add the garlic, onion and saute for a minute.
5. Tip in the roasted baby karelas. Add salt and spice powders and stir well. Add the tamarind juice and jaggery. Mix well and simmer stirring occasionally.
6. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with jowar rotis or as a side dish with dal chawal/ sambar rice.
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In my life i have never seen this kind of karela, looks interesting.
ReplyDeleteLinsy .. these are very rare .. you don't get them everywhere even in India.
Deleteu can find these in andhra
DeleteYes Kranthi.. I got them from Andhra only.
DeleteEspecially in rayalaseema districts as Kurnool and Kadapa
DeleteMy husband loves karelas - in any form. Saving this recipe for him.
ReplyDeleteHe will surely love this preparation..
DeleteI have never heard or seen these baby karelas, what an interesting vegetable. does it taste same as the large karelas which are very bitter???
ReplyDeleteYes Nayna these are very bitter.. That is why in Andhra they use lot of chilli powder in this preparation to beat the bitterness. They just have one or two seeds.
DeleteI like to know when it is available where it is available . One old women used to come my home amd sell it . After some days we never see her . If any one knows where it available please share it . Thank you .
ReplyDeleteI have seen this in Rayalaseema area like Aadhoni, Gooty, Guntakal even in Kurnool area
DeleteYes you are right. Waheed. I got these from Kurnool. These are seasonal. You get them only for a month or so not always
DeleteDuring my childhood I used to eat this with roti exclusively
ReplyDelete