Pavakkai podi recipe, Bitter gourd podi

Pavakkai podi recipe, Karakaya karam, Bitter gourd podi is a simple and easy podi made using bitter gourd, pairs well with hot rice and even curd rice too. I have tried this recipe twice at home but never clicked the pictures. Recently when i got a bunch of bitter gourd from the nearby Indian shop, i thought i will attempt to make a click of the pavakkai podi also called as Karakaya Karam in Telugu. I adapted this recipe from my favorite Vahchef and everytime i make this podi, it turns out so yum. I have given some tips and slight variations in the notes section, so please check the post till the end to read those tips.
I am a huge fan of bitter gourd and i have posted bitter gourd fry, bitter gourd curry and the traditional tamil brahmin pavakkai pitlai recipe in Jeyashri's kitchen. If you are a big fan of podis, then you must give a try on this bitter gourd podi and also try out my Andhra style paruppu podi, kothamalli podi and Nalla karam podi . 

Pavakkai Podi recipe

• Recipe Cusine: Indian
• Prep Time: 10 Minutes
• Cook time: 25 Minutes
• Serves: 1/2 cup 
• Author: Jeyashri
• Recipe Category: Lunch | Dinner
• Description: Pavakkai podi recipe, Karakaya karam, Bitter gourd podi is a simple and easy podi made using bitter gourd, pairs well with hot rice and even curd rice too.

     Bitter gourd  3 (medium size)
     Red chili    8
     Urad dal  1 tblsp
     Channa dal  1 tblsp
     Dhaniya | coriander seeds  1/2 tblsp
     Tamarind  a tiny piece 
     Garlic  2 cloves
     Oil  3 tbslp
     Salt  as needed

Method  :

• In a pan add the dhaniya, urad dal, channa dal, tamarind, red chili and garlic.
• Dry roast it in a medium flame till the dal turns golden color. 
• Take out and keep aside.
• Cut the bitter gourd into very thin roundels.
• Take out the seeds.
• In the pan add the oil. 
• Add the thinly sliced bitter gourd in batches.
• Shallow fry it until it turns crisp golden brown. 
• Do it for the rest of the bitter gourd.
• Take out from the oil and drain the excess oil in a kitchen towel. 
• Even after finish frying all the bitter gourd i have the oil left. I discarded the remaining oil.
• You can bake in an oven till crispy too. 
• Allow this  to cool completely. 
• Ensure even it is not warm too.
• Grind this into a powder.
• It will be slightly coarse, and it's fine too. 
• Transfer this into an airtight container.
• You can store this in the refrigerator for a month.
• Mix this podi with hot rice smeared with oil or ghee. 
• A simple curry or kootu or appalam is a perfect combo for this pavakkai podi rice.

Notes:

1. You can roast 1 tblsp spoon of sesame seeds and grind it together. 
2. If the variety of bittergourd you use is very bitter, thinly slice, smear some salt on this and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
3. Squeeze the juice and pat dry them or spread them in a kitchen towel for sometime to remove the extra moisture. 
4. You can add few more garlic cloves too. 
5. Pavakkai podi | bitter gourd podi tastes well with curd rice too. 

    

Method with step by step pictures :

• In a pan add the dhaniya, urad dal, channa dal, tamarind, red chili and garlic.
• Dry roast it in a medium flame till the dal turns golden color. 
• Take out and keep aside.

• Cut the bitter gourd into very thin roundels.
• Take out the seeds.
• In the pan add the oil. 
• Add the thinly sliced bitter gourd in batches.

• Shallow fry it until it turns crisp golden brown. 
• Do it for the rest of the bitter gourd.
• Take out from the oil and drain the excess oil in a kitchen towel. 
• Even after finish frying all the bitter gourd i have the oil left. I discarded the remaining oil.

• You can bake in an oven till crispy too. 
• Allow this  to cool completely. 
• Ensure even it is not warm too.
• Grind this into a powder.
• It will be slightly coarse, and it's fine too. 
• Transfer this into an airtight container.

• You can store this in the refrigerator for a month.
• Mix this podi with hot rice smeared with oil or ghee. 
• A simple curry or kootu or appalam is a perfect combo for this pavakkai podi rice.

Notes:

1. You can roast 1 tblsp spoon of sesame seeds and grind it together. 
2. If the variety of bittergourd you use is very bitter, thinly slice, smear some salt on this and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
3. Squeeze the juice and pat dry them or spread them in a kitchen towel for sometime to remove the extra moisture. 
4. You can add few more garlic cloves too. 
5. Pavakkai podi | bitter gourd podi tastes well with curd rice too.