Aagala Kai Palya/Bitter Gourd/Karela Sabzi

This is one of my favorite sabzi and the recipe is from my mom's kitchen ! :) The recipe wont taste that bitter and try it once before you hate it! Though its bitter in raw no wonder in its nutrients and makes good side dish.

Preparation time : 15 to 20 mins
Cooking time : 20 mins

Ingredients:
Bitter gourd - 2
Sambar powder - 2 tblspn
Jaggery - 1o r 2 tblspn
Tamarind extract - from lemon sized ball
Sesame seeds - 1tsp(powdered)
Salt to taste

To Temper:
Oil - 2-3 tblspn
Mustard seeds - 1tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Onion - 1 (very finely chopped)
Curry leaves - fistful

To Grind:
Coconut - 1/2 grated
Green Chill - 3
Garlic - 3 to 4 pods
Roasted gram - 1 tsp
Coriander - fistful
Poppy seeds - 1 tsp (dry fried)

Preparation:
1. Dry fry poppy seeds till it turns golden brown and keep aside to cool
2. Extract tamarind juice from lemon sized ball of tamarind
3. Cut the bitter gourd, and if you want you can remove the seeds else can keep (seeds will be more bitter)  and dry fry till it turns brown(until the raw smell is gone)
4. Grind all the items given under 'To Grind' to a paste and keep it ready
5. Powder the sesame seeds and keep ready

Method:
1. Add oil in a kadai and heat. Add mustard seeds and allow it to splutter. Once it splutters add all items given under 'To Temper' and saute till onions turn translucent
2. Now add the fried bitter gourd and saute for few seconds
3. Add prepared paste and mix well. Saute for 2 mins
4. Add jaggery and tamarind and saute for a min
5. Add sesame seeds powdered, sambar powder and salt to taste and mix well
6. Cook until bitter gourd is cooked well and all spices are mixed well and until raw smell of tamarind and sambar powder is gone

Enjoy with chapati/rotis or as a side dish for rice

Note:
1. If you feel the sabzi is too dry can add little water while cooking after adding sambar powder and mixed well
2. If sesame powder not available can add sesame seeds directly. Else if seeds also not available can omit that