Bitter Gourd - Tomato Curry

English: Bitter gourd in a small-scale organic farm in Tainan City, Taiwan Français : Margose (Momordica charantia) sur treille,dans une ferme Bio, à Tainan, Taiwan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 big size  Bitter Gourd
• 4 medium sized Tomato cut into pieces
• 1 medium sized Onion finely chopped
• 2 cloves of Garlic finely chopped
• 1 Green Chilly finely chopped
• 1 Dry Red Chilly
• 5 to 10 Curry leaves
• 50 gm. Chana Dal soaked in water for 5 minutes
• 50gm. Tamarind pulp or paste
• 1 tsp. Turmeric Powder
• 1/2 tsp. Red Chilly Powder
• 2 tsp. Sambar Powder
• Salt to taste
• Oil to Cook

PROCEDURE:

• Wash and cut the ends off bitter gourd, then cut it into two halves lengthwise(vertically).
• Remove the seeds and fill it with salt and keep aside for 20 to 25  minutes. This process will remove the excess bitterness of the bitter gourd.
• After 25 minutes, wash the bitter gourd to remove the excess salt.
• Now cut the bitter gourd into small pieces.
• Heat  a pan in a low flame with 2 tbsp. oil. Add the bitter gourd , 1 tsp. turmeric powder and fry it .
• Now simultaneously heat an another pan in a medium flame with 1 tbsp. oil.
• Put the mustard seeds. Once it starts popping, add onion , chana dal, green chilly, 1 dry chilly, chopped garlic, curry leaves and mix all well. Stir for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Then add tomatoes and mix it well. Cover it with a lid and cook it for 3 minutes.
• Once tomato becomes smooth, mix the fried bitter gourd and add salt according to taste.
• Then add Sambar powder and cook it for another 2 minutes.
• After that add the tamarind pulp, little water and boil it for another 1 minute and switch off the flame.
• Bitter Gourd Tomato curry is ready. Serve it hot with Rice.