🌶️ Bitter Gourd Chutney Recipe | Healthy & Tangy Karela Chutney (Goan Style)

🌶️ Bitter Gourd Chutney Recipe | Healthy & Tangy Karela Chutney (Goan Style)

A bitter-sweet coconut chutney with a flavorful twist

📝 About the Recipe

This Karela Chutney is a cherished Goan-style dish passed down from my mother-in-law. Despite karela (bitter gourd) being naturally bitter, the addition of fresh coconut, jaggery, and tamarind balances the taste beautifully, making it both nutritious and flavorful. Serve it with chapati, roti, or as a unique side dish with a traditional meal.

📌 Servings: 3
⏱️ Cooking Time: 15–30 minutes
👩‍🍳 Author: Puja Raghuvir Naik

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 bitter gourd (karela)
• ½ cup freshly grated coconut
• Small ball of tamarind
• 1–2 tsp jaggery (adjust to taste)
• 2 green chilies
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• Salt to taste
• ½ tsp oil

🍳 Method

Prep the Karela

• Wash the karela thoroughly and slice it into small pieces.
• Remove seeds.
• Apply salt to the karela and keep aside for 15 minutes to reduce bitterness.

Prepare the Chutney Base

• In a grinder, blend grated coconut, tamarind, jaggery, and green chilies into a coarse paste.

Temper the Mustard

• In a small pan, heat ½ tsp oil.
• Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
• Turn off the flame and add this tempering to the chutney paste.
• Grind the paste again briefly to blend in the mustard flavor.

Cook the Karela

• Heat a pan and fry the karela pieces in 1 tsp oil until golden and slightly crisp.

Combine

• Turn off the heat. Add the chutney paste to the fried karela.
• Mix well until coated evenly.

✅ Internal Linking Suggestions
🥒 Karela Fry Recipe
🥥 Goan Tomato Salad Bhaji

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

• Serve with chapati, roti, or as an accompaniment to a Goan vegetarian thali.
• Best enjoyed fresh, but can be stored in the fridge for up to a day.

🌿 Tips & Variations

✅ To reduce bitterness further, you can boil karela pieces for 5 minutes before frying.
✅ Add more jaggery for a sweeter chutney if preferred.
✅ You can also sprinkle some roasted sesame seeds on top before serving.

💬 Have you tried karela chutney before? Share your twist in the comments below!
📌 Pin this healthy chutney recipe to your Indian Sides or Healthy Recipes board!

💬 Like this unique Goan twist on karela? Comment, like, and share your experience! For more traditional and homely Goan recipes, stay connected to the blog.