Bitter Melon Subji (Karela Subji)

Effect: detoxify liver and pancreas, cools liver, metabolizes sugar, fat, strong. 

 Preparation:

• 2-3 bitter melons sliced into ¼” thick rounds

• Place bitter melon slices into bowl and sprinkle with ½ tsp turmeric powder and 1 tsp salt and toss to coat

• Let it sit for 15 minutes, then drain out water at bottom and rinse them off

Soaked Masala – Combine and set aside below ingredients:

• ½ cup water

• ½ tsp turmeric

• 1 tsp coriander powder

• ½ tsp cumin powder4 curry leaves

Sweet Water – Combine and set aside below ingredients for 10 minutes then strain and discard fiber and reserve fluid for cooking:

• 1 cup hot water

• 1 Tbs seedless tamarind pulp

• 3 tsp jaggery

• ½ cup hot water

Cook below ingredients:

• 2 Tbs ghee

• 2 medium onions chopped –cook until brown and ghee surfaces

• Stir in “soaked masala” and cook until ghee surfaces again

•  Add bitter melon, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp anise seeds, 1 tsp fennel seeds and mix and cover simmering on low for 10-15 minutes

• Pour in tamarind/jiggery mixture and stir

• Cover and cook on medium until karela (bitter melon) is fots and excess fluid gone (about 30-40 minutes

• Remove from heat and add ½ tsp garam masala (“mum’s super spice”)

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