60 Min
DF
GF
V
Stuffed Roasted Karela
A common staple in my kitchen — and one I have been trying to bring attention to for years — is the incredible bitter melon, aka karela.
For the most part, folks hear the word “bitter” and shy away. I understand. For years as a kid, I did, too. In fact, I have memories of sitting at the dinner table trying to eat it with tears streaming down my eyes as my parents lectured me on why it was a necessary part of our diet. As an adult, I have come to love it, not just for its tremendous capacity to cleanse our blood sugar and keeping our skin glowing but also for its flavor.
Karela holds up well to spices and pairs beautifully with naturally sweet vegetables such as butternut squash, sweet potato or corn. However, cooking it can be tricky if the bitterness is not balanced with a brine or a marinade. Don’t be afraid to use a generous amount of olive oil or another fat to bring out the flavor of this stuffed karela.
A common staple in my kitchen — and one I have been trying to bring attention to for years — is the incredible bitter melon, aka karela.
For the most part, folks hear the word “bitter” and shy away. I understand. For years as a kid, I did, too. In fact, I have memories of sitting at the dinner table trying to eat it with tears streaming down my eyes as my parents lectured me on why it was a necessary part of our diet. As an adult, I have come to love it, not just for its tremendous capacity to cleanse our blood sugar and keeping our skin glowing but also for its flavor.
Karela holds up well to spices and pairs beautifully with naturally sweet vegetables such as butternut squash, sweet potato or corn. However, cooking it can be tricky if the bitterness is not balanced with a brine or a marinade. Don’t be afraid to use a generous amount of olive oil or another fat to bring out the flavor of this stuffed karela.
60 Minutes
3
Notes & Variations
- To cook sweet potatoes, boil or roast them in the oven until soft and cooked through.
- Bitter melon peel, which is used as medicine by Ayurvedic practitioners, can be added to bread doughs or batters and tastes surprisingly mild.
- Add goat cheese to the sweet potato mix before baking it for added flavor.
- If using larger Chinese bitter melons, which have the same flavor as the Indian ones, adjust baking time for longer until the melon is cooked through.
- Coconut oil, sesame oil, or butter also work well with bitter melons.
Notes & Variations
- To cook sweet potatoes, boil or roast them in the oven until soft and cooked through.
- Bitter melon peel, which is used as medicine by Ayurvedic practitioners, can be added to bread doughs or batters and tastes surprisingly mild.
- Add goat cheese to the sweet potato mix before baking it for added flavor.
- If using larger Chinese bitter melons, which have the same flavor as the Indian ones, adjust baking time for longer until the melon is cooked through.
- Coconut oil, sesame oil, or butter also work well with bitter melons.
Tags:
Stock Your Pantry
Tags:
Stock Your Pantry
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