Recipes - Bitter Melon Tarkari

Ingredients:

• 4 cups bitter melon, sliced in 1-in. length
• 1 cup onion, finely diced
• 1 cup red pepper, sliced in 1-in length
• 5 dried red chilies
• 3 fresh red chilies, minced
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 2 cups yogurt
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (for garnish)

Cooking Instructions:

In a large pot of well-salted boiling water, blanch bitter melon slices for a few minutes and transfer to ice bath. Blanching in heavily salted water reduces the bitterness of bitter melon. In a non-stick sauce pan, heat oil and fry mustard seeds and red chilies until dark. Add onion and green pepper; fry until light brown. Add turmeric, curry powder, chilies, garlic and ginger; mix for a minute or so. Add the blanched bitter melon and stir fry for five minutes. To the bitter melon mixture, add yogurt and salt; mix well to incorporate all ingredients. Cover and cook on medium heat for ten more minutes. Once a desired consistency of stew has been achieved, garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with steamed rice.