Stuffed Hagalkai/Bitter gourd

Ingredients:
6 baby bittegourds/hagalkai
1 medium sized onion(finely chopped)
2 medium sized tomatoes/tamarind (finely chopped)
3 tsp fresh coriander leaves(finely chopped)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp amchoor/dry mango powder(not required when tamarind is used)
2 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp kitchen king powder
salt and red chilli powder for seasoning
2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp ginger paste(garlic paste can also be used with it)
1 tsp asafoetida
1 tsp sugar
2-3 tsp lemon juice
oil for frying

Procedure:Peel the outer skin of bitter gourds and slit in the middle.Remove all the seeds.Mix these bitter gourds with 3 tsp of salt and 2 tsp of turmeric thoroughly and leave it for 12 hours.Mix the onion and tamarind with the dry ingredients and stuff it into each of the bitter gourds.Heat sufficient amount of oil for shallow frying.Add the cumin seeds ,asafoetida and ginger paste and roast.Now add in the stuffed bitter gours.Place a lid on top of the pan and fill it with water.Allow it to cook until the bitter gourds are completely soft.Finally add a pinch of sugar and lemon juice.Garnish it with coriander leaves.Serve it with rice/chapati.


If  a gravy has to be prepared to go with chapati/roti it is preferable to use tomatoes.For a dry gravy for rice use tamarind.