Fabulous Cinnamon-Apple-Bitter Gourd-Potato Fry

Fabulous Cinnamon-Apple-Bitter Gourd-Potato Fry

Author: Rumki Paul
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3-4 Persons

Cinnamon-Apple-Bitter Gourd-Potato Fry is a fusion of authentic Bengali dish Aloo-Korola bhaja with Apple and Cinnamon. In this preparation, Bitter Gourd and Potatoes are cooked with sweet Apple, hot dry red Chilli, Turmeric powder and aromatic Cinnamon powder. It can be served as one of the sides of a thali.

I have tried so many recipes with Bitter Gourd but this one is really very special to me. I have given a twist to the traditional recipe and created a fresh new dish with different taste and flavour. Cinnamon-Apple-Bitter Gourd-Potato Fry is one of the success stories of my kitchen experiments which I am dying to share with you.

It is a very quick and easy recipe. To prepare this dish, very few and easily available ingredients are required. It hardly takes half an hour to get prepared, excluding the soaking time of Bitter Gourds. This dish goes fabulous as a side dish with plain Basmati rice, Dal and Ghee.

My childhood with Bitter gourd

Bitter Gourd is a nightmare for almost every child and hence a Mom’s toughest challenge is to make their children eat it. I am still a die heart Bitter Gourd hater and I know many of you are on the same side with me.

For Bengalis, there is a day called Chaitra Sankranti, the last day of a Bengali year and of course the toughest day of every year for me. On this day, it is compulsory to eat Bitter Gourd, Neem leaves, Paat Shaak and other bitter greens.

I still remember my childhood days, how I used to swallow Bitter Gourd with water. My mom used to scold me and always tried hard to explain me the goodness of Bitter Gourd.

Today, I can understand her struggle with me because now I have myself become a mother and want to make my daughter eat all healthy and beneficial green vegetables. But before directly jumping into the recipe, I would like to share few interesting facts about the not-so-dear green vegetable – Bitter Gourd.

Health benefits of Bitter gourd

In this preparation, first, I have soaked the sliced Bitter Gourd in salted water for half an hour. It does not completely remove the bitterness of Bitter Gourd but reduces it to some extent.

I have cut the Potatoes into small cubes for this dish. It gives a better texture to the dish with a nice bite. Then I have fried the Potatoes for some time before adding the Bitter Gourd slices. I cooked them in low flame using lid for some time.

I have initially cooked the vegetables with cover but have removed the lid after some time and cooked in medium or high flame. The dish tends to become mushy and loose its fried texture if it is cooked in low flame with lid throughout.

In this preparation, I have added Apple to reduce the bitterness and to add a little bit of sweet and tanginess. It has given a new refreshing taste to the dish.

I have used Cinnamon powder, Turmeric powder and whole dry red Chilli as spices for the recipe. Turmeric powder gives a soothing colour to the dish and the dry red Chilli gives a nice flavour to the dish. Cinnamon goes amazingly well with Apples. The combination brings a refreshing flavour to the dish. The flavour of Cinnamon complements the dish very well.

I have added Sugar to add some more sweetness to the dish. But it is completely optional if you don’t like to add Sugar then you can skip it.

Ingredients:

• 1 large Bitter Gourd, deseeded and medium sliced
• 1 large Potato, small diced
• ½ Apple, small diced
• 1 whole Dry red Chilli
• ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
• ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon Sugar (Optional)
• Oil to cook
• Cilantro for garnishing

1. Soak the sliced Bitter Gourd in salted water for half an hour.
2. Then drain the water and keep them aside.
3. Add Oil into a pan.
4. Once the Oil is hot, add whole dry red Chilli and fry it for few seconds.
   

5. Once the colour of the Chilli has changed, add Potatoes.
   

6. Cook it for 2-3 minutes in medium high flame.
7. Add Bitter Gourd and mix it nicely.
   

8. Cover the pan and cook it for 5-6 minutes in low flame.
9. Add Turmeric powder, Salt and mix them nicely.
   

10. Cook them in medium flame for another 2 minutes.
11. Add the pieces of Apple and give a nice mix.
12. Cover the pan and cook it for couple of minutes in low flame.
13. Cook them until the vegetables get soften.
14. Sprinkle Cinnamon powder and stir properly.
    

15. Add sugar and give a nice stir.
16. Cook them for another minute in lowest flame and switch off the flame.