pavaikai / bittergourd thokku

Ingredients:

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• Bitter gourd - 5 tender ones
• Gingelly oil - 1.5 tbsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
• Curry leaves - 3 sprig
• Turmeric powder - a pinch
• salt - 2 tsp
• tamarind juice,thick - extracted from a lemon size tamarind
• jaggery , powdered - 2 tbsp
• sambar powder - 2 to 3 tsp
• red chilli powder - 2 tsp

Method:

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• Chop the bitter gourd into very small pieces.(Remove the centre part with sees)
• Wash the chopped pieces and drain excess water.
• Add a tsp of salt.Mix well and set aside for 1 hour.
• Squeeze out the excess water completely .This will remove 70 to 80% of bitterness.
• Heat 4 tsp oil in a kadai,add asafoetida,mustard seeds and curry leaves.
• When it splutters,add the soaked bitter gourd slices with a pinch of turmeric powder
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• Saute well for 10 min till it shrinks.
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• Add the tamarind juice ,salt and allow to boil.
• Let it get cooked for another 5 min.Mix well in between.
• Add sambar powder, red chilli powder .Mix well and cook till it thickens slightly.
• Add the jaggery and keep stirring till it turns into a thick paste.(adjust the other ingredients after tasting)
• Switch off the flame.Add 2 tsp of oil over it and mix well.
• Let it cool completely and transfer into an air tight container.

Serve with rice and molagootal or dosa.