Bitter guard Fritters/ Kakarakaya Bajji

Hi Buddies,

This is our Saturday lunch special!!!  As a child, I used to dislike this “bitter” vegetable (I’m sure most of u too) but thanks to my mom that I don’t hate it anymore 🙂 .As Bitter guard is very healthy, my mom used to explore different recipes to make us eat this. This is one of my favorite ones as it’s not at all bitter 🙂 . We generally have it with rice as a side dish for dal/kootu/sambar, but can also be served as a snack. Try this bitter free recipe for sure!!!

Preparation Time:  30 minutes
No of Servings: 12

Ingredients:

Bitter guard: 6
Chana Dal: 1 ½ cup
Onions: 1(Big)
Green Chili: 1-2 (As per taste)
Salt:
Oil: for deep fry

Method:

• Soak chana dal for an hr.

• Wash and cut Bitter guard into half (if they are too long, then into 3). Then cut each piece vertically in center (cut only 3/4^th ,don’t cut till the end).

•  Scoop out the seeds and cook it directly in a pot with ½ tsp. of turmeric and little salt. Cook it for 15 minutes.

• Meanwhile, drain water from soaked chana dal and make a thick paste of it along with green chilies and salt (Don’t add too much water while grinding. Not more than 2-3 tbsp.)

• Cut onion and add them to the paste.

• Stuff the cooked bitter guards with the paste.

• Heat a kadai with oil and deep fry them. Remove from kadai once they turn golden in color and place them in a bowl with a tissue paper to absorb excess oil.

• Serve them with rice or a snack.