Pavakka varuthathu/bittergourd fry/karela fry

This is an Oh So Perfect Crunch for not so sunny days, when your house is shady and you a dazed and depressed one.  Of course, chewing on to coconut bits can make you a bit active and the wild combination of bitterness from gourdy gal and mild sweetness from coco guy – make you say, opposites do attract. When you bite into woody bits with oil oozing out with a turmeric tinge - wow! it is just so perfect. I have even seen fussy eaters going mad on this combo. Again, it is a nice way to introduce bittergourd to your kids diet. Try your luck ..........who knows next time you might end up loading your vegetable box with karela.

Ingredients
Pavakka/bittergourd/karela - 1
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Coconut pieces/Thengakothu/kopra- 1/2 cup
Pearl onion - 1/4 cup
Green chillies - 3
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Oil
Salt

Method
Cut bittergourd into small pieces. Marinate bittergourd with turmeric powder and salt for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a pan, fry bittergourd and keep it aside. Now add coconut pieces to the remaining oil, fry and keep them aside. Fry pearl onions, curry leaves and green chillies. When pearl onions turn brown in color, add fried bittergourd and coconut pieces. Adjust salt according to your taste.