Tawa? What is tawa? Tawa refers to a griddle in India . Normally it is used to cook Flatbreads, but the trend of cooking on a Tawa is getting very popular , specially on the streets or at the wedding functions . For this they use a real big , thick tawa . The ingredients are prepared in advance and the dishes are made in front of the customer .

Mumbai’s Pav Bhaji, Tawa Pulao , Delhi ‘s Aaloo Tikki , Lucknowi Kebabs and many more dishes are made on these tawas . Tawa Sabzi , Tawa Mithai’s are more popular at weddings and functions . Since the cooking is done in front of the customer , one can customize the dish , one can choose the quantity of oil and spices.

I have always enjoyed this cooking , and my children are very fond of the tawa sabzi that I make . For today I have chosen to make Tawa Karela . I adapted the recipe from Nita Mehta’s cookery book . While choosing my recipes for this theme , I didn’t realise  theme was  for Kids Delight and wondered if I should be posting a Karela recipe which the kids would not enjoy . It might sound strange but the fact is that my eldest granddaughter who is twelve now simply loves these karela’s . She normally eats one extra chapati when these are made . Now let’s hope we have more children who would be in for these karela’s .

I know many of you might run away after reading the word Karela, well these are definitely slightly bitter but if handled with a pinch of sugar , some salt, a few teaspoons of curd and finally a tsp of flour , your Karela will transform from bitter to sweet . This marinade takes away the bitterness .

The karela’s are prepared by marinating , then boiling and finally filling them with a stuffing and the final cooking is done on the tawa .

Let’s check the recipe for these karela’s.

Tawa Karela

Ingredients

10-12 karela’s
1 tbsp flour
2 tbsp yogurt
Pinch sugar
3 onions
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/4 tsp nigella seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp dry mango powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp coriander powder
4-5 tbsp oil

Method

Marinating Karela

Peel and remove stalks .
Remove any hard seeds and rub salt inside as well as outside .
Sprinkle a tbsp of any flour , 2 tbsp yogurt and a pinch of sugar .
Mix well and keep aside for an hour.

Stuffing

Heat1 tbsp oil on tawa.
Add fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds and fennel seeds .
As soon as fennel changes color add onion and fry till golden .
Add salt , dry mango powder red chilly powder , garam masala and coriander powder.
Cook for a minute , mash slightly and remove from fire .

Making the karelas

Wash the karela’s very well and squeeze out the water .
Boil the karela’s in 4-5 cups water along with 2 tsp salt.
Let boil for 7-8 minutes or till they are soft .
Drain and cool .
Fill 1 tbsp of onion stuffing in each karela .
Heat oil on a tawa and place the karela’s, stirring occasionally till crisp.
Slide the karela’s to the side to drain excess oil .
Serve hot with chapati .

Some more Karela recipes

Tariyal Karela 

Nutty Karela Crisps

Achaari Karela

Karela Crisps with Nuts

Print Pin

Tawa Karela

These Karelas have been made on a Tawa, with a delicious stuffing. The gourds should be marinated an hour before to remove the bitterness.

Course Dinner, Lunch

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 10-12 karela’s
• 1 tbsp flour
• 2 tbsp yogurt
• Pinch sugar
• 3 onions
• 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
• 1/4 tsp nigella seeds
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp dry mango powder
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp coriander powder
• 4-5 tbsp oil

Instructions

Marinating Karela

• Peel and remove stalks .
• Remove any hard seeds and rub salt inside as well as outside .
• Sprinkle a tbsp of any flour , 2 tbsp yogurt and a pinch of sugar .
• Mix well and keep aside for an hour.

Stuffing

• Heat1 tbsp oil on tawa.
• Add fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds and fennel seeds .
• As soon as fennel changes color add onion and fry till golden .
• Add salt , dry mango powder red chilly powder , garam masala and coriander powder.
• Cook for a minute , mash slightly and remove from fire .

Making the Karelas

• Wash the karela’s very well and squeeze out the water .
• Boil the karela’s in 4-5 cups water along with 2 tsp salt.
• Let boil for 7-8 minutes or till they are soft .
• Drain and cool .
• Fill 1 tbsp of onion stuffing in each karela .
• Heat oil on a tawa and place the karela’s, stirring occasionally till crisp.
• Slide the karela’s to the side to drain excess oil .
• Serve hot with chapati .

Notes

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM# 84 . The recipe also goes to Srivalli's Kid's Delight hosted by Archana.