Pavakkai Poriyal | Crispy Bitter Gourd Stir Fry - Vidhya’s Vegetarian Kitchen

5 from 1 vote

Pavakkai Poriyal | Crispy Bitter Gourd Stir Fry

Here is a simple South-Indian crispy bitter gourd stir-fry recipe that's a perfect side dish for rice-based dishes! Check out how to make this simple pavakkai fry in a cast-iron pan with detailed step-wise pictures.

Prep Time10

Cook Time40

Total Time50

Course: Entree

Cuisine: South Indian

Keyword: crispy bitter gourd fry, pavakkai fry, pavakkai poriyal

Servings:

Calories: 70kcal

Author: Srividhya G

Ingredients

Measurement Details: 1 cup=240ml; 1 tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp = 5ml;

250 grams bitter gourd
2 cups water
⅛ tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp oil
½ tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp urad dal
½ tsp chana dal
5 to 7 shallots
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sambar powder

Instructions

Chop the bitter gourd as described earlier and place it in a vessel suitable for a pressure cooker. Add 1.5 cups of water and ¼ tsp of turmeric powder, and pressure cook for one whistle.
Carefully release the pressure and drain the water.
Heat a cast iron pan and, once hot, add 1 tbsp of oil, spreading it evenly. Add mustard seeds, urad dal, and chana dal when the oil is hot. After the mustard seeds splutter, add the chopped shallots and cook until they turn translucent.
Add the cooked bitter gourd, salt, and sambar or chili powder, mixing well.
Let it roast on low heat until all the moisture evaporates and a brown crust forms.
Turn off the heat once the crust is formed and your crispy bitter gourd stir fry is ready.

Notes

Adjust the salt and spices to your taste.
Why pressure cook the bitter gourd? I prefer steaming the veggies first to reduce the oil needed during frying. For bitter gourd, steaming also helps reduce some bitterness. I save the stock water and drink a couple of tablespoons.
Alternative steaming methods: Instead of pressure cooking, microwave the bitter gourd for 6-7 minutes or use an Instant Pot on high pressure for one minute, followed by a quick pressure release.
If you don't have shallots, ¼ cup of chopped red onions can be used.
You can use red chili powder or red chili powder + coriander powder in combination with sambar powder.

Nutrition