Ingredients

• Bitter gourd - 1/2 kg
• Raw rice - 2 tsp
• Tamarind - 8 cm round lump
• Bengal gram (channa) dal - 3 tbsp
• Coriander seeds - 3 tbsp
• Dry red chillies - 3 to 4
• Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Black gram (urad) dal - 2 tsp
• Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - a few
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Jaggery powder - 4 tbsp
• Oil - 6 tbsp
• Salt - 1 tsp

How to Make Bitter Gourd Gosthu

• Scrape the bitter gourds and chop into tiny pieces. Sprinkle with 1 tsp salt and keep aside for 30 minutes. Squeeze out well to drain away all the liquid.
• Soak tamarind in 1.5 cups of water and extract the juice.
• Roast all the ingredients from Bengal gram dal to raw rice in 1 tsp of oil.
• Cool and powder.
• Heat remaining oil.
• Season with mustard, black gram dal, asafoetida and curry leaves.
• Add bitter gourd pieces and turmeric.
• Cover and cook on low heat till the gourd pieces are soft and remove.
• Cover and fry the gourd pieces till brown.
• Add the tamarind extract and simmer till thick.
• Add the prepared powder, jaggery and salt to taste.
• Simmer for 5 more minutes.
• Serve hot or cold.
• It goes well with rice, idli, dosa etc.