Kareley (Bitter Gourd or Melon) can be cooked in various styles. We will keep sharing other recipes in our other posts. Kareley (Bitter Gourd or Melon) is a summer vegetable and is liked in Pakistan and India.  Stuffing it is considered one of the most work-intensive methods, but gives some of the best results. Cooking Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon) is a bit complicated but by following all steps will make it easy.  People ussually stuff with meat, but here we provide an alternate by using dal chana (Split Black Gram). Also watch our video on Qeema Bharey Kareley if there is confusion, as this is a vegetarian version of the same recipe.

Preparing the Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon) for cooking

Note: Here we will explain everything with 1 Kg of Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon)

Ingredients

1 Kg Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon)
2 teaspoon salt

Preparation

1. Cut the Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon) from one side in length
2. Extract the seeds
3. Spread the 2 teaspoon salt on Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon)
4. Put them in sunlight for half an hour
5. Then wash thoroughly with water
6. Put them on a clean cloth so that the extra water drains out
7. Now the Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon) are ready for next steps

Preparation of Dal Chana (Split Black Gram) for filling

Ingredients

1/4 Kg dal chana (Split Black Gram)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
1 large size onion chopped
1 tablespoon ginger paste
5 cloves of garlic
½ liter water

Method

1. Soak dal chana (Split Black Gram ) in water overnight;
2. Put dal chana , red chili, salt, turmeric powder, garlic and ginger paste and water in pressure cooker and place on fire with high heat;
3. When whistle blows cook for 20 minutes;
4. After opening the pressure cooker see if there is water dry it completely
5. Keep stirring to avoid burning of dal chana (Split Black Gram);
6. After it dries add chopped onions ;
7. Dal chana (Split Black Gram) is ready for filling the Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon);
8. Fill each Karela (Bitter Gourd or Melon) with cooked dal chana (Split Black Gram)
9. Take a clean white kitchen thread and put it around the already prepared Karelas (bitter melon or gourd) It is to close the cut;
10. When all the Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon) filled and wrapped with thread you are ready for the final step

Final Cooking

Ingredients

1 liter Oil for deep frying

Method

1. In a deep fryer or a Karahi pour the oil and heat it until it is boiling
2. Put 2-3 filled Karelas (Bitter Gourd or Melon) in the oil and fry for 10-15 minutes or until brown.
3. Serve with roti and salad or green chatney.

Best wishes for your cooking!

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