Karela – Bitter Melon

The fruit has a distinct warty looking exterior and an oblong shape. It is hollow in cross-section, with a relatively thin layer of flesh surrounding a central seed cavity filled with large flat seeds and pith. In Punjabi cuisine, bitter melon is stuffed with spices or mince meat and then fried in oil. Karelay Gosht is very popular dish in Pakistan. In the cuisine of South Indian state of Kerala, for making a dish called thoran mixed with grated coconut, theeyal and pachaadi. In Andhra Pradesh, the popular recipes include curry, deep fry with peanuts (ground nuts), ‘Pachi Pulusu’ ( a kind of soup made up of boiled Bitter Melon, fried onions and other spices). Bitter gourd juice is a popular health drink, especially for diabetics.