BITTERGOURD USILI

      I love to have Usili prepared with Cluster Beans. Already I have posted Beans usili. I had a thought of replacing Beans by Bitter gourd . 

But I was scared that "Will the dish turn out so bitter?". I soaked the Bitter gourd pieces in curd to remove the bitterness & I followed the rest of the procedure for Usili. The outcome was very tasty Usili. 

INGREDIENTS

BITTER GOURD	1
CHANNA DHAL,TOOR DHAL	¼ Cup
CURD	¼ Cup
DRY RED CHILLY	3
FENNEL SEEDS/SOMBU	1 Tsp
ONION	1
RED CHILLY POWDER	1 Tsp
TURMERIC POWDER	A Pinch
MUSTARD SEEDS	½ Tsp
URAD DHAL	½ Tsp
SALT	To Taste
OIL	1 Tbsp

STEP BY STEP PICTURES

Chop the Bitter gourd/ Pavakkai into small pieces. Soak it in curd,Turmeric powder,Salt for 15 mins. This is to remove the bitterness. 

In a kadai heat oil & add Mustard seeds,Urad dhal. Add Onion. Fry it. Then add the Pavakkai (drain the curd, just only the pieces) & fry it. Sprinkle little water.

Add Salt. Close it with a lid & cook it for 5 mins.

      Soak both dhals for 30 mins. Grind it coarsely by adding Dry red chilly,Asafoetida,Sombu. Steam it & crumble the dhal mixture.

(Refer the Beans usili for preparing Dhal mixture) . Add it to the Pavakkai pieces.

Stir it in low flame.

Pavakkai usili is ready.

Healthy Usili.