Uchche Bhaja | Bitter Gourd Fries

Uchche Bhaja is bitter gourd fries from a Bengali Kitchen. These are a delicacy of Bengali’s, even though it is bitter.

Uchche is bitter gourds in Bengali and Bhaja is fries. The Uchche Bhaja are crisp Bitter Gourd fries . It is a simple, fuss-free recipe that needs just 20 minutes from start to finish.

Bengali Cuisine has elaborate lunch and dinner meals. All meals are served course-wise. I suppose Bengali’s are the only Indian community that serve a six-course meal. They start with bitters and end with sweets, enjoying all flavours.

Why Bitters?

These bitters work as palette cleansers and prepare the tongue to savour the rest of the meal. Vegetables like Bitter Gourds, herbs like Neem have high medicinal values and these are the starters of any Bengali meal.

How to prepare Uchche / Bitter Gourds

If I have to prepare bitter gourds in my Sindhi kitchen, I like to remove most of the bitterness by marinating the gourds. The Bengalis retain this bitterness. They cut the uchche into roundels, just like chips. They drop them into the water and let them soak for 10 minutes. Drain the water, give a gentle squeeze and the Uchche are ready to fry.

Frying the Uchche

Oil is brought to a smoking point. The bitter gourd roundels are then fried in hot oil. At first, keep the flame high for two minutes. thereafter on medium flame, till they change the colour. Finally, reduce the flame to make them crisp. Frying them in Mustard Oil will give these fries an authentic taste, however, if you do not like the flavour, use any cooking oil. After all, it is all about enjoying a dish to your own taste.

Seasoning the Uchche

Salt and turmeric powder are the only seasonings we need for these Bhajas. For variation red chilly powder or Kasundi paste are good options. Though the simple fries taste best with salt and turmeric.

Health Benefits of Bitter Gourds 

They are high in nutrition and are loaded with vitamins and minerals. 

Boosts weight loss as Bitter gourd is low in calories, fat and carbohydrates. 

Aids digestion and is an excellent source of dietary fibre.

Great for diabetics as it has anti-diabetic properties. 

Try these Uchche Bhaja, which are a part of my Bengali Vegetarian Thali. This is my post under the alphabet U, for the A to Z series where I am posting all Thali Recipes. Try the South Indian Karela Chips or Sindhi Style Karela and I assure you, you will start loving Bitter Gourds.

Here are the recipes under the A – Z series of Thali Recipes –

A – Almond Stuffed Dates

B – Bhavnagri Mirch ke Bhajiye

C – Chakundar ka Bharta

D – Dal Bhindi

E – Elaichi Kesar China Grass

F – Fruit Payasam

G – Gatta Capsicum

H – Harabharyachi Usal

I – Imli ki Khatti Meethi Chutney

J – Janta Roti

K – Karela Sindhi Style

L -Limbu Sarbat

M – Makhana Mithadi

N – Navtad na Samosa

Q – Onion Raita

P- Peerkangai Kootu

Q – Qeema Tikki 

R- Royal Kulfi Falooda

S – Sobji Diye Moong Dal

T – Takey Paise