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    Home > Indian Vegan Recipes

    Bitter Gourd Sabzi

    Posted: Jan 9, 2009 ยท Updated: Mar 31, 2022

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    bitter gourd subzi in a steel bowl.


    Ah, the bitter gourd.

    It's ugly, it's bitter, it plays hard-to-get here in the U.S., and yet...it's so delicious, it drives me to poetry.

    Well, not really, but it does make me a happier cook.

    I've posted a couple of bitter gourd (karela or pagarkai) recipes before, but as you can see, I am in love with this healthful veggie, which makes me pounce on it anytime I spot a fresh bunch at my Indian grocery store which, unfortunately, is not all that often. I also keep trying to find new ways to cook it up. And the simpler the recipe, the happier I am.

    This Karela Sabzi is so simple and so delicious, it's a treat for a busy weeknight. The caramelized onions give the sabzi a richness and depth, and the sugar and peanuts contrast beautifully with the bitterness of the gourd, toning it down while not disguising it completely, which would be a pity.

    I used storebought Tava Masala in this sabzi: I love fresh-ground spices, but on a weeknight time's hard to find and it never hurts to take some help from the readymade-masala gods.

    Now for the sabzi. Try it, even if you don't love the bitter gourd, and who knows? You might start writing odes to it too!

    Related recipes

    • Bottle Gourd (Dudhi) Subzi
    • Stuffed Bitter Melons (Karela)
    • Cauliflower Sabzi
    • Baingan Methi Sabzi
    • Cucumber-Mint Sabzi
    • Pavakkai Pitlai
    bitter gourd subzi

    Bitter Gourd Sabzi

    Bitter gourds are among the most beloved and most hated veggies in India, but there is no doubting their amazing, almost magical healing powers. This simple but delicious Bitter Gourd Sabzi, cooked with spices and peanuts, is enough to convert the most die-hard bitter gourd hater.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Side
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Karela Sabzi
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 25 mins
    Total Time: 40 mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 131kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 5 small bitter gourd melons (washed thoroughly and cut crosswise into thin rings, about 2 mm thick. Remove any hard seeds embedded in the white flesh.)
    • 1 large onion (thinly sliced)
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon tava masala (available at Indian grocery stores)
    • ยผ cup peanuts (coarsely powdered)
    • 1 teaspoon cayenne
    • ยฝ teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • Salt to taste
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    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a skillet.
    • Add the onions and stir to coat with oil. Add the sugar and stir in.
    • On medium heat, cook the onions, stirring frequently, until they start to brown.
    • Add the bitter gourd rings and salt.
    • Toss thoroughly with the onions, then add the tava masala, cayenne and turmeric and stir together.
    • Turn the heat to low, put a lid on the skillet, and cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes or so, until the onions and the bitter gourd caramelize and the bitter gourd is tender.
    • Add the peanut powder and stir into the sabzi.
    • Check salt. Turn off heat.
    • Serve hot with chapatis or as a side-dish with rice and dal.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Potassium: 483mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 756IU | Vitamin C: 101mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    About Vaishali


    Hi! I am so happy you're here. I'm Vaishali, and I've been sharing recipes for delicious vegan food at Holy Cow Vegan since 2007. Every one of the more than 1,000 recipes on this blog has been tried and tested -- and loved -- by my family and I. I hope you will find something here to share with your loved ones. Thanks for stopping by!
    Read more about me here.

    Try these recipes next

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bahaar

      October 28, 2018 at 1:22 am

      5 stars
      Looks delicious!

      Reply
    2. A Collection of Thoughts

      January 12, 2009 at 3:47 am

      Hi Vaishali,
      Discovered your "kingdom" through Sangita Kalarickal's page. Lovely recipes.
      Just a small question:
      when exactly you add the Tava Masala while cooking this Bitter Gourd Subzi? It is not mentioned..or did I just miss it?
      Thank you and keep giving us mouthwatering recipes:)!!
      ~Mita

      Reply
      • K

        December 12, 2020 at 7:22 am

        #5 in her recipe!

        Reply
    3. Curry Leaf

      January 11, 2009 at 9:48 pm

      I too love bittergourd dishes and use tava masala and simply stirfry with it.Never added all the other ingredients and made a proper side dish.Looks yum

      Reply
    4. Shreya

      January 11, 2009 at 9:25 am

      hi Vaishali, what a mouth watering picture! We love karela too, and I made it yesterday with yogurt. I love your recipe for the subji, but I think I will avoid the sugar and, if required, would prefer to add jaggery instead. Peanuts sounds more interesting in this dish:-)

      Reply
    5. Soma

      January 10, 2009 at 6:53 pm

      Karela is one of my fav. veggies. Buy them whenever I get them. Using peanuts is really new to me. U post some real different recipes.

      Reply
    6. Gita's Kitchen

      January 10, 2009 at 3:13 pm

      This is a little bit different from my preparation, caramalized onions with karela should taste great....

      Reply
    7. Sunshinemom

      January 10, 2009 at 12:05 pm

      Looks good! I use MDH Tava Masala too sometimes! It adds great flavor to any stir fry. I have some karelas - lets see what happens!

      Reply
    8. DJ Karma

      January 10, 2009 at 11:26 am

      hmmm- I've never tried bitter gourd. Wonder if I can find it out here in Cali. Looks beautiful!

      Reply
      • K

        December 12, 2020 at 7:24 am

        Go to any Indian or Chinese grocery stores!

        Reply
    9. Ramya

      January 10, 2009 at 11:02 am

      This is my first time to your blog. The bitter gourd subzi looks good. Does the jaggery and peanut balance the bitterness?

      Reply
    10. Vij

      January 10, 2009 at 4:37 am

      Bitter gourd curry looks good! nice click.

      Reply
    11. Madhu

      January 10, 2009 at 4:10 am

      I like bitter gourd now, didn't like while growing up.We use lots of jaggery while cooking them, it balances the bitteness.
      This is a new recipe to me...looks good.

      Reply
    12. Mahimaa's kitchen

      January 10, 2009 at 12:53 am

      karelas look mouthwatering. i love them. i like the fact that it is bitter unlike other veggies. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    13. Cham

      January 10, 2009 at 12:46 am

      In my house I am the only one who dive for this veggie, howewer i make it they just reject! Peanut should bring a nice nutty flavor

      Reply
    14. Dibs

      January 10, 2009 at 12:24 am

      I love bitter gourd dishes. I like the idea of adding peanuts to this one. The dish looks yummy. Haven't been in an Indian store for a while ...must but a couple of different masalas and see!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

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