Pavakka Pachadi Recipe – Bitter Gourd Pachadi

Pavakka Pachadi which is also called as Bitter Gourd Pachadi is a very easy comforting side dish from Kerala cuisine. It's made with bitter gourd, coconut and curd as main ingredients. It tastes great with rice. The initial prep, sauteing and curd helps in reducing the bitterness to a great extent, making the pachadi really tasty. Course : Side Dish Ingridients : 3 Karela (Bitter Gourd/ Pavakkai) 1 Onion , chopped 1 cup Curd (Dahi / Yogurt) , or buttermilk pinch Turmeric powder (Haldi) , to reduce bitter from bitter gourd Salt , to taste For Grinding 1/4 cup Fresh coconut , grated 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu) 2 Green Chilli For the seasoning 2 teaspoon Coconut Oil 1 teaspoon Mustard seeds (Rai/ Kadugu) 1 Dry Red Chilli Curry leaves , few Instructions To begin making the Pavakka Pachadi Recipe, first wash the bitter gourd, cut it lengthwise and remove all seeds. Chop it to small pieces.Add 1 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of turmeric powder to bitter gourd slices and mix well. Keep it aside for 30 to 40 minutes. Bitter Gourd would have left some water. Discard it. Again sprinkle little water, mix and squeeze the bitter gourd slices with your hand. This helps to reduce the bitterness of bitter gourd.Heat oil in a heay bottomed pan, add chopped bitter gourd and saute. Keep sauteing in low medium flame. When the bitter gourd is 75% done, add chopped onions and saute . Meanwhile, prepare the masala. Grind coconut, mustard, green chillies and salt to a smooth water adding little water. When the bittergourd and onions are done, add the ground paste to the roasted veggies, add curd or buttermilk . Give a mix and allow it to gently boil on a low medium flame. Switch off. The next step is to prepare the tempering. Heat oil in a tadka pan, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add red chillies, curry leaves and pour it over the pachadi.Pavakka Pachadi is ready to be savoured! Serve Pavakka Pachadi along with Keerai Sambar, Steamed Rice and Raw Banana Thoran for a delicious everyday meal