Pavakka Kichadi | Bittergourd Pachadi

It’s been quite a while since I posted something on the blog. No particular reason this time, it’s just lack of interest. But after the break I feel good and hoping to be regular hereafter. Since Vishu is coming  up next week, I thought I will start with a Vishu sadya special recipe. 

A pachadi/kichadi is nothing but a yogurt based dish made with fruits or vegetables, ground coconut, chillies, mustard seeds and seasonings. Some of the common fruits and vegetables that we are use to make pachadi for sadya are ladies finger/okra, tomato, pineapple and beetroot.

Today’s recipe is kichadi with bittergourd or pavakka. The yogurt and seasonings help in reducing the bitterness of the gourd. If you are planning to make a full-fledged sadya, try this pavakka pachadi for a change. Also check out other pachadi and kichadi sadya recipes.

Pavakka Pachadi

Fried bittergourd in a spiced yogurt and coconut sauce

Print Pin Recipe

Servings 2 – 3

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 1 large bitter gourd
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• Salt to taste
• Few curry leaves
• 2 tbsp coconut oil

To grind

• ½ cup coconut
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 3-4 green chillies

To temper

• 1 tsp coconut oil
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 2 dry red chillies
• Few curry leaves

Instructions

• Trim the ends of bitter gourd and halve it. Scoop out the seeds and slice thinly.
• In a pan add coconut oil and add bitter gourd, curry leaves and fry till the gourd turns golden brown.
• Meanwhile grind the coconut, mustard seeds, green chillies to a paste with 2 tbsp  yogurt.
• In a bowl add the remaining  yogurt and whisk well. Add the coconut paste and mix well.
• Add the fried bitter gourd, salt to the yogurt coconut  mixture and mix well. Add more yogurt if thick.
• In a pan heat coconut oil and add mustard seeds. When it splutters add red chilies, curry leaves and pour over the kichadi.

Notes

• Add green chillies according to spice preference.
• You can adjust the yogurt and make the consistency as you like.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian