Pavakka Theeyal / Bitter gourd pickle

This is my mother’s special recipe. This is a recipe which I found in her cooking dairy.    I always keep this as a pickle in all our get-togethers. It is one recipe of bitter gourd which everyone wants to try. My brother, who doesn’t touch bitter gourd, like this recipe. Try making it once and please comment.

Ingredient

Bitter gourd -  250gm

Garlic – 5 pod  (cut lengthwise)
Ginger – 1” piece ( cut into small pieces)
Jaggery – 25gm
Tamarind - 1 lemon size
Jeera powder – ½ tsp
Methi powder – ½ tsp
Chilli powder – 2 tsp
Mustard seed – 1 tsp
Hing – ¼ tsp
Salt as per taste
Oil – as required

Method

1.      Cut the bitter gourd at around 1” length wise, deseed and cut into long strips.

2.       Mix salt and leave it for half an hour, now squeeze of the excess water.

3.       Fry the bitter gourd to medium dry. Remove from oil and keep it aside.

4.      Soak the tamarind in 1 cup of water for half an hour. Mix well and remove the water pulp. Strain off the seeds and hard skin.

5.      Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan .

6.      When it heats add mustard seeds , ginger, garlic and fry.

7.      Remove the pan from the heat.

8.      Add jeera, methi, chilli and hing powder and mix.

9.      Now add the tamarind pulp and keep it to boil.

10.  Now add the fried bitter gourd and salt and continue boiling for 2 min.

11.  Remove from fire and add the jaggery and mix well.