Preparations:

Wash, clean and cut the bitter gourds into thin slices. Remove the seeds. Take these bitter gourd slices into a microwave safe bowl and add some water. Place this bowl in a microwave oven and cover it partially. Cook the bitter gourds on high power for 5 minutes. Stir once with a spoon and again microwave on 30% power for 5 minutes. Allow 3 minutes standing time before taking out the bowl from microwave oven.

Peel onions and cut them into thin slices. Wash and chop curry leaves.

Method:

Heat a pan and add oil to it. When the oil is hot add Bengal gram and black gram. Fry till the seeds start changing color. Then add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Fry till the seeds crackle. Then add the chopped curry leaves and fry well. Now add the sliced onions and fry till they start becoming crisp. Then add the cooked bitter gourd pieces and mix well. Add turmeric powder, salt and red chili powder. Mix well and cook covered on slow flame for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes remove the lid and fry for 2 more minutes stirring continuously. Transfer the curry to a serving bowl. Serve hot with plain rice.

Points To Remember:

First wash the vegetables in 2%salt water to remove the toxins of the pesticides used while growing them. Then wash again in plain water. After thoroughly washing the vegetables, cut them.

Remove the hard seeds of the bitter gourd after cutting them. Otherwise they will add additional bitterness to the taste while eating.

Add just 10 to 15ml water while cooking the bitter gourds in microwave oven. There won’t be any water left after they get cooked.

If you feel the curry is too bitter add  a little dry mango powder to balance it.