Pavakka / Bitter Gourd Pachadi

Ingredients:

1 big bitter gourd/ pavakka/ kaipakka
1/2 cup grated coconut
2 green chillies
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 cup yoghurt
3/4 tsp mustard seeds
2 dry red chillies
1 sprig curry leaves
salt to taste
oil

Preparation:

1. Cut bitter gourd into thin round slices. Heat 1/2 cup of oil in a pan and fry the sliced bitter gourd till crispy and golden brown at medium flame. Remove them from the flame and drain on paper towels.
2. Grind together grated coconut, green chillies, cumin seeds and 1/4 tsp mustard seeds to a fine paste.
3. Mix this coconut paste with yoghurt and salt.
4. In a pan, add the fried bitter gourd and coconut-yoghurt mixture and mix well and heat in low flame for 1-2 minutes. Don’t allow to boil. 
5. Heat oil in a pan, splutter 1/2 tsp mustard seeds and fry dry red chillies and curry leaves and pour this over the curry. Serve with rice….