Biitter Gourd Curry ( Pavakka Theyal)

Overview
Bitter gourd is one of the vegetables used through out India. It has good medicinal value too and is very good for diabetes. This is a typical Kerala dish which uses tamarind and fried coconut which gives this dish a hot and sour taste.

Ingredients

Bitter gourd - 4 medium size ones
Red onion - 1 medium sized sliced length wise
Fresh Ginger  - 3 inch piece sliced length wise
Green chilly - 4 split length wise
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Whole red Chilly - 4
Whole Coriander seeds - 3 tablespoons
Fenugreek seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric - 1 teaspoon
Tamarind ball  - size of a lime
Salt to taste
Oil - 3 tea spoons

For Garnish
Oil - 3 tea spoons
Mustard seed - 1 tablespoon
Whole Red chilly - 6 cut into pieces
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs

Steps
1. Wash the bitter gourd and cut in half length wise and remove all seeds. Cut each half into crescent shape slices. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and mix well and keep this aside for at least 30 minutes.
2. Squeeze ans drain the liquid from the bitter gourd after the 30 minutes. This is to remove some of the bitterness.
3. Soak the tamarind in hot water for about 30 minutes and  strain and keep aside the tamarind pulp.
4. In a heavy bottom pan add the squeezed bitter gourd , red onions, ginger, curry leaves and 1/2 cup water and cook for about 15 - 20 minutes till the bitter gourd is cooked well.
5. In another pan  add 3 teaspoons of oil . When it gets hot add red chillies, coriander seeds and fenugreek and roast well. Add the fresh grated coconut to this and saute till the coconut turns dark brown. Let this mixture cool then blend it in b;lender to make a paste.
6. Add this coconut mixture to the cooked bitter gourd along with the prepared tamarind pulp and  bring this to a boil. Simmer and cook for about  5 more minutes. Check salt.
7. In another pan heat the oil for garnish. When hot add the mustard seeds , when it splutters add the whole red chilly pieces and curry leaves. Turn off the heat and Add this garnish on top of the Bitter gourd curry. Serve as a side dish with rice. Enjoy