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Bitter Gourd Fry Recipe, how to make Pavakkai Fry

Bitter Gourd Fry Recipe

nags
Fried bitter gourd in a rice flour and spice mixture, Tamil Nadu style. Perfect with rice and rasam
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Vegetarian Sides
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium-sized bitter gourd cut into thin 2" pieces (about 3 cups)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3-4 tbsp rice flour
  • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
  • A generous pinch of hing / asafoetida /perungayam
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala
  • 1/4 tsp pepper powder
  • Oil for deep frying

Instructions
 

  • Rub salt into the cut bitter gourd pieces and set aside for an hour. Once the hour is up, squeeze all moisture from the bitter gourd pieces and transfer to another bowl.
  • Add rest of the ingredients to the pieces and stir well to dredge. There should be enough rice flour to coat all the pieces well (not too thickly) so if you feel you need more, adjust the quantity. The initial salt you added should be enough but add more to taste if you feel you require it.
  • Let the dredged bitter gourd pieces rest for 15 mins or so while you heat up the oil to deep fry. Fry in batches until dark brown and cooked through. Drain on kitchen towels. Its important that you make sure the pieces are thin, otherwise the inside won't be cooked.