Ingredients: 12 bitter gourds (karelas) Salt to taste 1 tablespoon ginger paste 1 tablespoon garlic paste 1 teaspoon turmeric powder Butter for basting and greasing For the filling: 150 gm paneer, grated 60 gm groundnuts 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 1 tablespoon coconut, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 large onions 5 cm ginger, julienned 1 ½ coriander powder 1 teaspoon chilli powder Salt to taste 2 tablespoon tamarind pulp 1 tablespoon jaggery, crushed For the tempering: 3 tablespoon sesame oil ½ teaspoon cumin seeds ½ teaspoon mustard seeds ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds 15 – 18 curry leaves Method: Wash and slit the bitter gourds on one side. Remove the seeds and rub with salt. Arrange on a tilting tray and keep aside for at least an hour. (keep the bitter gourds overnight if you prefer them less bitter). Put enough water in a pan. Add salt, ginger paste, garlic paste and turmeric powder. Stir and bring to a boil. Add the bitter gourds and blanch them until soft. Drain and keep aside. To prepare the filling: Remove the brown skin and roughly chop the coconut. Dry roast the coconut, groundnuts, sesame seeds and cumin seeds in a frying pan until each emits its unique aroma. Hold the onions with tongs and roast them directly over the flame until the skin is charred. Cool, peel and roughly chop the onions. Grind all these ingredients, except paneer, with ¼ cup water to a fine paste. Add paneer, ginger, jaggery, coriander powder and chilli powder to the paste and mix well. To prepare the tempering: Heat oil in a frying pan and season with cumin seeds, mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds. Stir over medium heat until they begin to crackle. Add curry leaves and stir. Pour over the paste, mix well and divide into 12 equal portions. Put a portion of the filling into each of the blanched butter gourds. Arrange them in a greased roasting tray with the slit side on top. Cover with foil. Punch a few holes in the foil and cook on dum in the pre-heated oven at 275 degree fahrenheit for 30 minutes, basting at regular intervals. Remove and uncover. Serve with cumin tempered whole potatoes and buttered seasonal vegetables on the side.
