This recipe is also known as bharwa karela, which means stuffed karela. You can stuff bitter melon with anything (onion masala, chutneys, etc.), but today, I’m sharing a recipe that calls for a spiced potato filling!
Something you should know:
I have three other bitter melon recipes on my blog, and in all posts, I share a warning with my readers: bitter melon is a love it/hate it kind of fruit. And the chances are that if you didn’t grow up eating it or haven’t yet acquired a taste for it – that you’re going to be in the latter category. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to give bitter melon a try, then this recipe for potato-stuffed bitter melon is the one to make. It’s a good “first-time” karela recipe because it calls for potatoes, which helps to balance the bitterness. The potato filling has what we call a “chatpata” flavor, meaning that it’s pretty tangy. The tangy flavor in this filling is from amchur powder (dried green mango powder). This tart and salty filling mellows the bitterness of the bitter melon. If there’s any chance of you liking bitter melon, then this is the recipe that’ll do it for you. Now, IF you are already a fan of bitter melon, then get ready for an incredible way to prepare it – because you are going to love this! To make this recipe peel the bitter melon (save the peels for this chilke ki sabzi recipe), then make a slit on one side and remove all of the seeds. After that, stuff the melons, then tie them up with kitchen twine. The twine helps to keep the stuffing inside when you shallow fry them at the end. You’ll first steam them in the Instant Pot, then fry them in there too. Everything in one pot = fewer dishes! The photo below is of a different recipe: stuffed karela with an onion tomato masala, but the process is basically the same:
Why eat Karela if it’s so Bitter?
Bitter melon is considered a healthy vegetable – one that Indian parents often insist upon their children for this very reason (I have first-hand experience with this, lol). I used to think eating bitter melon was punishment as a child, but now I love it. I gave Tony a tiny piece of my karela when I made it a few weeks ago, and he immediately spat it out and gave me a look like, “mom, what the heck did you just give me.” I am 100% certain I gave that same look to my parents – it makes me smile to think about that now 🙂 I probably won’t try giving him any more karela for awhile. So what are the health benefits? First, let me say I am just a food blogger and not in the medical field in any way – but it is said to help with diabetes, cancer, viral infections, and immune disorders. I obviously do not suggest trying to heal yourself without first talking to a doctor. There can also be adverse side effects to eating bitter melon – do not eat this fruit if you are pregnant (read more about bitter melon here). I enjoy bitter melon, and I personally think that’s a good enough reason – the potential health benefits are certainly a plus. Now let’s be honest here; eating this stuffed karela with a potato filling probably isn’t the healthiest way to eat bitter melon, so if you prefer a healthier version of stuffed karela, try this recipe instead, which calls for an onion masala filling.
What’s up with Mustard Oil?
I like to shallow fry the stuffed karela in mustard oil because it has a distinctive flavor that pairs nicely with bitter melon. You can find mustard oil in any Indian grocery store or on amazon (I like this brand of organic mustard oil). Before I get into trouble with the US government here, you should know that in the US – mustard oil is sold for “external use only.” You’ll find that unsettling disclaimer in small words on the bottle, but please know that Indian people use it all the time for frying their food. You can certainly use another type of oil if you’d like. If you’re interested in learning more about mustard oil, here’s a study that was done in 2004 by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which found that the “use of mustard oil, which is rich in α-linolenic acid, was associated with a lower risk than was the use of sunflower oil” and here is an interesting article by the NY Times. Again, just a foodie here. If you try this dish, let me know what you think of it! Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!
