May 19, 2012

Kakarakaya Ulli Karam Kura(Bitter Gourd Onion Masala Curry) And A Thali

Today I am again here with one more thali from Andhra Pradesh. This is not a special thali but this thali includes some Andhra special dishes. Which normally we cook for our every day meal. Traditionally Andhra people like to start there meal with spice powder like Papula podi or Dhaniyala karam, Kobbari podi. They mix this spice powders with rice and a dash of ghee,This is known as Modatimudda(the first bite of the meal ). Then they continue the meal with Dal and dry curries (stir fried vegetables). And the meal continue with Rasam and curd, Pickle.
thali2                                                      This is a every day menu but for festivals and special day 's the menu will be elaborate with sweets and snacks. Here in this thali we have Tomato Pappu (tomato dal) which is a very common dish in every day meal. This dal is very favorite to Andhra people.

In dry curries we have Dondakaya kobbarikaram kura and Kakarakaya Ullikaram Kura.
Normally we don't use Kakarakay for special occasions. This vegetable is cooked in every day meal only. Because it has a bitter taste, Bitter taste is not auspicious,but this vegetable has it's own medicinal values. So using bitter gourd in your meal for at least twice a week is good for your health..
Other then that we have
Tomato Rasam,
Usiri Avakaya (Gooseberry Pickle)
Kobbari jilakarapodi(coconut and cumin spice powder)
Perugu (curd)
Annam (rice)
Here is the recipe for Kakarakaya Ulli Karam Kura.
kakarakaya kura INGREDIENTS:---
Kakarakayalu (bitter gourd)  -- 4 medium size or 500gms
Butter milk  --- 1/2 cup
Turmeric powder  --- 14 tea sp
Salt to taste
For Masala:--
Onion  -- 1 big cut in to cubes
Garlic   -- 5 cloves
Dry coconut  --- 1 tab sp
Red chilli powder  --- 1 tea sp
For Tadka (talimpu:---
Oil  -- 1 tab sp
Mustard seeds --  1/2 tea sp
Split urad dal   --- 1 tea sp
Cumin seeds  --- !/2 tea sp
METHOD:----
1.Peel little outer skin of the bitter gourds and cut in to  1/2 inch pieces.
2. Take butter milk, turemeric powder and salt in a vessal mix well add bitter gourd pieces and soak for 10 minutes.
3. After 10 minutes squese and remove the bitter gourd pieces from butter milk mixture set a side.
This helps to remove the bitter taste alittle bit from bitter gourd.
4. Grind all masala ingredients in to a coarse paste, don't add water just run the blender for 2 seconds and remove, set a side.
5. Heat oil in a frying pan add mustard seeds let them popup then add split urad dal, cumin seeds, fry till they turn in to brown.
6. Now add bitter gourd pieces adjust salt cover and cook in a very low flame till the bitter gourd pieces are cooked stir in between .
7. Now add masala to the bitter gourd pieces give a good stir.
8. Fry for 5 more minutes in a low flame or till the nice aroma comes out.
Remove from heat and serve with rice and dal. This goes very well with Phulkas too.
This is my fourth  Thali for Blogging Marathon 16 th edition in the theme of Indian thali and lets check the Marathon page.
And this is my entry for Srivallis Thali Mela

                                                     

12 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Seriously Padma, your thali makes me hungry even after having my dinner, droolworthy dishes again.

Uma said...

Wow, Rekha! What a tempting thali! Please pass me that plate of yumminess. It's lunch time for us and I am hungry :)

KrithisKitchen said...

That is a delightful thali.. awesome spread..
Krithi's Kitchen

Nalini's Kitchen said...

What a tempting thali Padma..your picture makes me really craving for the awesome thali...

Unknown said...

yummy dish with the bitter veggie!...looks and sounds delicious!

Srivalli said...

Such wholesome meal Padma this bitter gourd is a favorite at our place..

Ramya said...

you have a nice site and lovely recipes...please do particpate in my GOURDS event

Indrani said...

Very healthy and elaborate thali...looking finger-licking yummy

Jayanthi said...

Very nice variation to bitter gourd curry. A must try recipe. The spread looks awesome. If interested, link your recipe to WTML event & giveaway

sushma said...

Interesting one have to try sometime

Unknown said...

Very tempting

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vidhas said...

Deicious thali. ove the bitterguardd curry.