Kakarakaya ( Bitter Gourd in English, Pavakkai in Tamil, Karela in Hindi) is a very healthy and diabetic friendly vegetable. I make bitter gourd recipes at least once in a week. Usually I prepare bitter gourd curry, Chettinad puli kuzhambu or Pavakkai pitlai.
Kakarakaya Pulusu is an Andhra style bittergourd gravy made by frying bitter gourd pieces in oil and its added to a spicy gravy. But I came across an easy, one pot, Andhra style Kakarakaya Pulusu ( Pulusu means Kuzhambu/Gravy in Telugu) in a Youtube video. I tried it for lunch along with brinjal masala poriyal. It tasted very well without much bitterness.
Bitter gourd lovers like me must try this recipe. Addition of jaggery (Bellam), tamarind and thinly sliced bitter gourd sauted in oil helps to reduce the bitterness I feel. So friends, do try this Andhra special Kakarakaya Pulusu recipe for rice. I am sure you will enjoy it. Now lets see how to make it with step by step photos !
Ginger & Garlic paste – 1/2 tsp ( or use 1/2 tsp Ginger paste)
Red chilli powder – 1.5 tsp to 2 tsp
Dhania powder – 1 tbsp
Salt & water – as needed
Grated jaggery – 2 tsp
To temper
Cooking oil – 3 tbsp
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Urad dal – 1 tsp
Curry leaves – few
Hing – a pinch
Coriander leaves – to garnish
HOW TO MAKE KAKARAKAYA PULUSU – METHOD
Wash and cut the bitter gourd vertically. Remove the middle portion along with the seeds. Slice it thinly as shown in the picture below. These steps will help you to remove the bitterness to a certain extent.So slice it thinly.
In a pressure cooker base, heat oil and splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, curry leaves. Add bitter gourd slices, saute till it becomes soft. Add onion, gg paste and saute till its raw smell goes off. Add slit green chillies and saute for few seconds. Bitter gourd turns dark green in color.
Now add the red chilli powder, turmeric powder, dhania powder and salt. Dhania powder helps to give thickness to the gravy. Mix well in low flame without burning them. Now add 1 cup of tamarind extract, raw pinched curry leaves. Let it boil for a minute. Add the grated jaggery, check for salt and spice. Add more chilli powder and salt if needed. Mix well and pressure cook in very low flame for 2 whistles. Bitter gourd cooks soft.
Open the cooker and see a layer of oil floating on top. Check if the gravy is too watery. If its too watery, boil for sometime till slightly thick. Mix well and serve hot with rice, papad ! ( Oil floats on top only if you cook this gravy in pressure cooker. If you make in kadai, you should boil the gravy till oil oozes out.)
Enjoy!
Note
Adjust the quantity of green chillies and red chilli powder as per your taste buds
Add the mentioned quantity of oil to get the oil floating on top.
Try this Andhra delicacy at home and enjoy your lunch !!
Hello, I'm Chitra Sendhil, the writer and photographer behind this website. I started this website as a food blog in 2009 under the name "Ratatouille - Anyone Can Cook." In 2013, after purchasing my own domain, I rebranded it to "Chitra's Food Book." I am a pure vegetarian, born in Tamil Nadu, and currently residing in Bangalore, India. To learn more about me, please visit the "About Me" page. You can find all my recipes, complete with videos and step-by-step pictures, right here on my website. Mail me to chitra.ganapathy@gmail.com for your queries and feedback.
How to make Andhra style Bitter Gourd Gravy for rice – Kakarakaya pulusu recipe 
