As a food blogger, I feel a bit funny sharing this recipe for masala stuffed karela because I know most of you aren’t going to like it. Bitter melon is a (very) acquired taste. In fact, I stand by what I wrote in my first bitter melon blog post that I shared with you guys a few years ago: if you’ve never tried bitter melon before, then there’s a 99% chance you’re not going to like this dish. BUT this recipe is for those of us who do actually enjoy the unique flavor of bitter melon. You can stuff karela with anything. In fact, I have another delicious stuffed karela recipe coming to the blog in a couple of weeks. For this recipe, though, we’re using my recipe for Indian onion masala along with some other spices, like amchur (dried mango powder). The sourness from the amchur balances out the bitterness from the karela. And yes, I realize that I am not making this dish sound appetizing at all – sour and bitter? Yep. If you like karela, then you’ll like this.
An Onion Masala Recipe:
This recipe is part of my onion masala series. Check out this post to learn all about it. The gist: I’m sharing recipes that call for exact amounts of onion masala to help make Indian cooking easier for you on a daily basis. To make stuffed karela, you have to first peel the karela (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 steam them in the Instant Pot, then fry them in there too. Everything in one pot = fewer dishes, woohoo!
What is Karela and Why Eat it?
Bitter melon looks kind of like a prickly cucumber and it’s said to help with all sorts of medical ailments. So what are the health benefits? First, let me say I am 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. I eat bitter melon because I like it and I personally think that’s a good enough reason.
About Mustard Oil:
I prefer to shallow fry bitter melon in mustard oil because it has a distinctive flavor that works well with bitter melon. You can find it in any Indian grocery store or on amazon (I like this brand of organic mustard oil) – but before I get myself 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 disclaimer in small words on the bottle – but know that Indian people use it all the time for frying their food. You can 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, I’m just a foodie. Tell me what you think of this dish, especially if you are brave enough to try it having never eaten karela before! I want to know if you want me to share more karela recipes. Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board now so you will remember to make it later!
