Pavakka Kichadi / Bittergourd Kichadi

Pavakka Kichadi / Bittergourd Kichadi (also called Pachadi) is a side dish served with rice.
Kichadi is prepared using fried vegetable mixed with curd or yogurt.

INGREDIENTS:

• Finely chopped Pavakka / Bitter Gourd - ½ cup 
• Curd - 1 cup 
• Roundly cut Green Chilly -4 nos 
• Curry leaves 
• Salt to taste
• Coconut Oil - for frying 

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Fry the Pavakka / Bittergourd, Green Chilly and Curry leaves till it is brown and crisp. 
• Add Fried items into curd. 
• Add salt and mix it well.

Recommended Combination: Pavakka Kichadi / Bittergourd Kichadi can be served with rice.

Pavakka Theeyal / Bittergourd Theeyal

Theeyal is a delicious dish in Kerala. It has a rich distinct taste which makes it a distinct curry.
This recipe uses Pavakka or Bittergourd as the main ingredient.

INGREDIENTS:

• Sliced shallots(Pearl Onion) - 15 nos
• Slit Green Chilly- 4 nos
• BitterGourd / Pavakka- 1 Medium Size
• Grated Coconut- ½ cup
• Red Chilly Powder - 1½ tsp
• Coriander Powder- 1½ tsp
• Turmeric Powder-¼ tsp
• Fenugreek Powder- a pinch
• Tamarind - A gooseberry sized ball
• Water - 1/2 cup
• Curry Leaves - a few
• Salt to taste
• Oil - 2 tsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat 1 tsp of oil in a pan add Grated coconut and saute till brown.
• Add chilly powder and coriander powder and stir for a few minutes.
• Remove from fire and allow to cool.
• Grind it to a fine paste.
• Soak tamarind in ¼ cup of warm water and take the extract from it.
• Cut Bittergourd / Pavakka into small pieces.
• Heat remaining oil in a pan.
• Add sliced onions, Green Chilly and saute, till they turn golden brown colour.
• Add Pavakka and saute for another 3 minutes.
• Add turmeric Powder,salt and water,allow to cook.
• Add tamarind juice and allow to boil.
• Add coconut paste and let it to boil till the gravy thickens and oil seperates.
• Remove from the fire and add curry leaves.
• Sprinkle fenugreek powder and mix well.

Recommended Combination: Pavakka / Bittergourd Theeyal can be served hot with Rice.

Pavakka Curry / Bittergourd Curry

Pavakka Curry / Bittergourd Curry is prepared in grinded coconut paste to reduce its bitterness.
This is a thick gravy curry served with Rice.

INGREDIENTS:

• Pavakka / Bittergourd -2 big size
• Sliced Onion - 1 no
• Sliced Green Chilly -3 nos
• Sliced Tomato - 1 no
• Grated Coconut - 1 cup
• Corriander powder – ½ tsp
• Chilli powder – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
• Salt to taste
• Coconut Oil – 1 tbsp
• Curry Leaves 

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Remove seed from Pavakka and cut it into small pieces.
• Grind the Grated coconut, Chilly Powder,Corriander Powder to a fine paste.
• Cook Pavakka, Onion and Green Chilly along with Turmeric powder and Salt.
• When Pavakka is cooked, add Coconut paste and Tomato.
• Let it boil.
• When it starts boil,turn off the stove and add Coconut Oil and Curry leaves.

Recommended Combination:Pavakka Curry / Bittergourd Curry can be serve hot with Rice / Chappathi

Pavakka Thoran / Bitter Gourd Thoran.

Pavakka / Bitter Gourd is a stomachic medicine, which serves to tone the stomach, improving its function and increasing appetite. It is also used as a medicine for diabetics. This bitter fruit can be used to prepare a variety of dishes including Thoran. The grated coconut in Thoran reduces the bitterness of the dish.

INGREDIENTS:

• Bittergourd/ Pavakka (finely Chopped) - 1 big
• Grated coconut - ½ Cup
• Finely Chopped Onion - 1 nos
• Finely sliced coconut - ¼ cup
• Green Chilly(Chopped) - 4 nos 
• Turmeric powder - ¼ tsp
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
• Red Chilly-2 nos
• Rice - 1tbsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Salt to taste

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds and Red chilly and allow to splutter.
• Add rice and fry it.
• Once rice becomes crispy, add the chopped onion,green chilly and saute well till the Onion turns transparent.
• Add chopped Bitter gourd, sliced coconut,turmeric powder and Salt .
• Sprinkle water, cover the pan and let it cook.
• Add the grated coconut and mix well.
• Stir continuously till the water dries up.
• Add curry leaves and mix it.

Recommended Combination: Pavakka Thoran / Bitter Gourd Thoran can be served hot with Rice.

Pavakka Mezhukkupuratti / Bitter Gourd Stir Fry

Pavakka, Green chilli, Coconut slices, Onion slices are cooked in little water and fried in oil till it turns crisp and golden colour

INGREDIENTS:

• Bitter Gaurd(Roundly sliced)- 1 cup
• Green chilies (slit)- 4 nos
• Sliced Onions -¼ cup
• Coconut slices -¼ cup.
• Turmeric powder -¼ tsp.
• Salt to taste
• Oil -2 tbsp

PREPARATION METHOD:

• Cook Pavakka in little water along with turmeric powder, Green chilli, Coconut slices, Onion slices and salt.
• Heat oil in a pan.
• Put the Pavakka into it and fry utill it turns to golden colour.

Recommended Combination: Serve with Rice.