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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Dal & Curries » Veg Curries » Masaledar Karela

    Published: Feb 25, 2021 | Last Updated On: Feb 27, 2021 by Neha Mathur

    Masaledar Karela

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    Jump to Recipe

    Try this spicy, tangy, and sweet masaledar karela for your everyday Indian meals. It tastes great with phulka, paratha, or even with dal rice. Here is how to make it. (vegan, can be easily made gluten-free)

    If you are someone who prefers to make simple everyday sabzis for weekday meals, then here are some more for you – Baingan Methi, Mooli Ki Sabzi, Aloo Matar Gobi, Hare Tamatar Ki Sabzi, Tindora Fry, and Aloo Bhindi.

    Masaledar Karela served in a bowl.
    Jump to:
    • About This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to make Masaledar Karela?
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Suggestions
    • You might also like
    • Recipe Card

    About This Recipe

    Karela or bitter gourd is one of those vegetables, that is not preferred by many. But I am one of those who loves to eat a good karela sabzi. This masaledar karela is my favorite version of karela sabzi, which is even enjoyed by my son, who used to make faces seeing the vegetable.

    It’s tangy, spicy, and sweet, all at once and that’s what makes this masaledar karela so delicious and tempting. Kashmiri red chili powder adds the much-needed spiciness, tamarind gives it a tangy taste and jaggery adds that hint of sweetness that complements the other flavors so well.

    At home, we love to eat it with a combination of simple dal and rice. The karela sabji adds a zing in the simple dal chawal, making it taste even more delicious. But, you can serve it with Indian bread too.

    As karela is a little bitter, it is coated with salt for about 10 minutes. It is then washed to get rid of the bitterness. This is an important step, otherwise, the karela will taste bitter.

    This Masaledar Karela is,

    • Vegan
    • Gluten-free (skip adding asafoetida)
    • Delicious
    • Sweet + Tangy + Spicy
    • Perfect for everyday meals

    Ingredients

    Masaledar Karela Ingredients.

    Karela – Karela, or as we call it bitter gourd is available throughout the year, so you don’t have to wait for any specific season to try this recipe. Check your nearby Indian grocery store if you are living outside of India.

    While buying bitter gourd, see that they are bright green in color and also firm, when you slightly press it.

    Oil – Make this recipe in mustard oil for the best result. The flavors of pungent mustard oil really enhance the overall taste of the sabzi. While using mustard oil, heat it until the smoking point and reduce the flame before you add other ingredients.

    If you do not heat the mustard oil properly, the sabzi will have a raw taste. If you do not prefer mustard oil, you can use vegetable oil too.

    Jaggery – Jaggery is added for a little sweetness that balances the bitter taste of the karela.

    Tamarind – Just like jaggery, tamarind is also used to balance the bitter taste of the karela. But it adds a tangy taste to the sabzi which complements the sweet flavor of jaggery really well.

    Spice Powders – To enhance the taste further we will add coriander powder, turmeric powder, and Kashmiri red chili powder. I have used Kashmiri red chili powder, as it will add a nice color to the sabzi without making it too spicy.

    Others – Apart from the above-mentioned ingredients, we will add asafetida (hing), fennel seeds, nigella seeds, cumin seeds, onion, ginger garlic paste, and salt.

    How to make Masaledar Karela?

    Wash 0.6 lb (300 g) of karela with water and peel it using a vegetable peeler. Do not discard the peel. We will use it later in the recipe.

    peeled karela.

    Rub approximately 1 teaspoon salt all over karela and keep them aside for 10 minutes.

    salt applied on karela.

    Wash the karela well with water and cut it into thin rounds (0.25 inch).

    washed karela.
    sliced karela.

    Heat 4 tablespoon mustard oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. An iron kadai works great for this recipe too. Once the oil is hot, add ¼ teaspoon asafoetida (hing), 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf), ½ teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji), and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera) and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds. Skip adding hing if making it gluten-free.

    hing, saunf, kalonji, jeera added in hot oil.

    Add 1 cup of thinly sliced onions and fry on medium-high heat until they are nicely browned (8 – 10 minutes).

    Onion added to the pan.

    Add 2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste and fry for another 2 minutes.

    ginger garlic paste added to the pan.

    Now add 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, salt to taste, and the karela peel and fry for a minute.

    dry spices and karela peel added to the pan.

    Add the sliced karela and mix everything well. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and cook on low heat until karela is tender (10-12 minutes).

    sliced karela added to the pan.

    Add 2 teaspoon crushed jaggery and 2 teaspoon tamarind paste and mix well. Cover and cook for 1-2 minutes.

    jaggery and tamarind paste added to the pan.

    Serve hot.

    ready masaledar karela.

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve masaledar karela along with a simple dal like Toor Dal, or Masoor Dal, and steamed rice, with some sliced onions and papad on the side. The most comforting meal ever!

    You can also serve it with Indian bread such as phulka, tawa paratha, laccha paratha, jowar roti, etc. It even tastes great with kadhi khichdi combination, try it.

    Storing Suggestions

    Masaledar karela will last in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Store it in an airtight container. Reheat it in a pan or microwave until nice and warm, before serving it again.

    You might also like

    • Bhandare Wale Aloo ki Sabji
    • Paneer Tikka Masala
    • Bhindi Do Pyaza (Stir Fried Okra Onion Curry)
    • Batata Bhaji

    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Try this spicy, tangy, and sweet masaledar karela for your everyday Indian meals. It tastes great with Phulka, Paratha, or even with Dal Rice. Here is how to make it. (vegan, gluten-free)

    Masaledar Karela Recipe

    Try this spicy, tangy, and sweet masaledar karela for your everyday Indian meals. It tastes great with Phulka, Paratha, or even with Dal Rice. Here is how to make it. (vegan, gluten-free)
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 179kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • 0.6 pound bitter gourd/karela
    • 4 tablespoon mustard oil
    • ¼ teaspoon asafoetida/hing (skip for gluten free)
    • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds/saunf
    • ½ teaspoon nigella seeds/kalonji
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera
    • 1 cup thinly sliced onion
    • 2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
    • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
    • 2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • salt (to taste)
    • 2 teaspoon crumbled jaggery
    • 2 teaspoon tamarind paste
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    Instructions

    • Wash 0.6 lb (300 g) of karela with water and peel it using a vegetable peeler. Do not discard the peel. We will use it later in the recipe.
    • Rub approximately 1 teaspoon salt all over karela and keep them aside for 10 minutes.
    • Wash the karela well with water and cut it into thin rounds (0.25 inch).
    • Heat 4 tablespoon mustard oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. An iron kadai works great for this recipe too. Once the oil is hot, add ¼ teaspoon asafoetida (hing), 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (saunf), ½ teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji), and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera) and let them crackle for 3-4 seconds. Skip adding hing if making it gluten-free.
    • Add 1 cup of thinly sliced onions and fry on medium-high heat until they are nicely browned (8 – 10 minutes).
    • Add 2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste and fry for another 2 minutes.
    • Now add 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, salt to taste, and the karela peel and fry for a minute.
    • Add the sliced karela and mix everything well. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and cook on low heat until karela is tender (10-12 minutes).
    • Add 2 teaspoon crushed jaggery and 2 teaspoon tamarind paste and mix well. Cover and cook for 1-2 minutes.
    • Serve hot.

    Notes

    Rubbing the karela with salt and keeping it for some time is important to get rid of some of the bitterness. Do not skip this process.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 660IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Hi! I'm Neha, Blogger & Recipe Expert behind Whisk Affair. I've nurtured Whisk Affair since 2012 by trying & testing every recipe published. Be sure that it will turn out good each time! Read More about me…

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