Pavakkai Kuzhambu

Pavakkai Kuzhambu (Bitterguard Curry)

Ingredients:

Pavakkai - 1 (long)

Onion - 1, chopped

Tomato - 1, chopped

Garlic - 3 cloves

Sambar powder - 1 tsp

Dhaniya (Coriander) powder - 3 tsp

Curry leaves - few

Coriander leaves

turmeric powder -1/4 tsp

tamarind - nellikkai alavu (gooseberry size)

Mustard seeds, urad dal, jeera 1/4 tsp each for seasoning

Method:

Heat oil in a pan and season it with mustard seeds, jeera, urad dal and curry leaves. Add the onion and saute with a pinch of salt, until soft. Then add the garlic and saute for few seconds. Add in the pavakkai, pinch of salt and saute for a min. Let it cook for 3-4 min, mixing in between. Then add the tomato, little salt and saute till its cooked. Mix in the sambar and dhaniya powders. Pour in the tamarind extract. Add 1 cup of water, salt and let it boil. Then simmer and let it cook for 10 min. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with rice.

Note: I add salt little by little in the process of cooking, and the most pat of the salt required, at the end to retain the iodine content.