Pongal is
the harvest or thanks giving festival celebrated by Tamils where ever they are.
Pongal is spread over 4 days with yesterday being the first. My day was
the usual of waking up early, lighting up the oil lamp in my altar and at the
stipulated auspicious time, I boiled milk with rice, brown sugar, raisins,
cashew nuts and cardamom. This sweetened rice dish, known as Pongal is done in
the sunlight, dedicated and offered to the Sun god, Surya. Therefore, Pongal
food is cooked to convey regards and say thanks to god for prosperity. Anyway,
my recipe today is not on how to make Pongal. It’s a vegetarian curry to
coincide with Pongal festival because many observe vegetarian diet for the 4
days.
Some
people find it hard to digest bitter gourd but let me tell you that once the
curry is prepared, the bitter taste is mild and mellow. The impact of the
bitterness of gourd can also be reduced with a neutral tasting ingredient and
for that, I added potatoes. If you have been avoiding bitter gourd, I can
assure you that the pleasant combination of piquant and spicy
flavors of this curry will drive away the fear of eating it.
Ingredients
3-4 medium size
Indian bitter gourd - remove seeds and sliced
2 medium size
potatoes - cut into medium size pieces
2 tomatoes -
sliced thinly
1 red onion -
sliced thinly
5 garlic - sliced
thinly
1 tsp black
mustard seeds
1 tsp
fenugreek/halba seeds
3-4 sprigs curry
leaves
1/2 cup thick
coconut milk
2-3 tbsp curry
powder - mix with water for a thick paste
1-2 tbsp tamarind
juice
1/2 liter water
1/2 liter water
4 tbsp oil
Salt for taste
Method
When oil is
heated, sauté onion and garlic.
Add mustard and
fenugreek seeds.
Stir and when seeds
start to splatter,
Add curry paste
and continue to stir until oil splits.
Put in all the rest
of the ingredients except coconut milk.
Stir and pour in water.
Continue to cook until the gourd and potatoes are cooked.
Continue to cook until the gourd and potatoes are cooked.
Pour in coconut
milk and gently stir all in.
Just as curry
starts to bubble, remove from heat.
bitter gourd potato curry.. this is nice..
ReplyDeleteI normally drink bitter gourd juice 1x/2wk..
good for detoxification...
nt really like bitter ground >.< but never try it together with curry maybe it will be nice ~
ReplyDeleteNice curry with my fav veggie,never tried with potato,sounds like a gr8 combo...
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of this curry, it is a different but tasty combo :)
ReplyDeleteCheers
Choc Chip Uru
I love your combo of bittergourd and potato next time when I buy bitter gourd I will try this curry.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting...I never thought in cooking bitter gourd with curry...something that I might try.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Nava!
MMm should be very good. Never had it with bittergourd before
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. Never tasted bitter gourd curry before though I am certain I will love it since I love bitter gourd as a general rule.
ReplyDelete