Karela Chana (Bitter Gourd stuffed with Black Bengal Gram)

Courtesy Anjana Kumar (aka Mummy, Mumma, Ma)

Ingredients

• 1 cup black chick peas soaked over night
• 2 dried red chili (khadi mirchi)
  
• 2 big size Karela (Bitter Gourd)
• 1 big onion - chopped finely
  
• 10 cloves Garlic and 1/2 inch ginger ground to a fine paste
  
• 4 tablespoons oil
  
• Salt to taste
  
• 1 tsp Turmeric powder
  
• 1 tsp Red Chili
  
• 1 tsp Cumin powder
  
• 1 tsp Coriander powder
  

How to :

1. In a non-stick deep pot - add the oil and let the cumin and red chili sputter.
   
2. Add the chopped onions and saute till golden brown.
   
3. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for another 6 minutes till the paste starts to leave the surface of the cooker.
   
4. Now add the salt and all the powdered spices like coriander, cumin, turmeric and chili.
   
5. Cook for several minutes till everything mixes well.
   
6. Now add the black chick peas, minimum water and close to pressure cook. On medium flame cook till u hear two whistles.
   
7. Take the karela and slit it lengthwise and remove all seeds and contents from inside the karela. Now boil it in salty water for 10 minutes.
   
8. After cooling the karela, stuff it with the seeds and the cooked chick peas.
   
9. Now heat oil in a shallow frying pan and lay down the karelas lengthwise to shallow fry the karela. Let the Karelas get crispy brown on the outside.
   
10. Serve with Rotis or Parathas.