The bittersweet experience!

Of all the veggies, I loathed most, the top of the rank would go to Karela...known as Bitter Gourd.
What's in a name?Its everything.....it says all....bitter. I could never fathom why anyone would eat something that will leave a bitter taste?
But age mellows one.....I guess the taste buds blossom too, so the same me actually tried out the Karela and have to say its worth a try. After all one cannot write off the medicinal value of the Karela!!
Here how you can prepare it......

Ingredient:
Karela: 4-5
Onion:1 medium size.
Garlic:2-3 flakes
Ginger:1"
Green Chilli: 2
Whole spice:1/4 T Spoon each- Fenugreek, onion seed(kalaunji or kalo jeerey)cummin,aniseed.
Dry Spice:1 T Spoon coriander, cummin powder, 1/2 T spoon red chilli powder, 1 Table spoon mango powder, 1 Tbl Spoon besan.
Sugar and salt as per taste.

Preparation:
Peel the karelas with a peeler and set it aside.
Slice the peeled karela like the size of french fries and dip it in salt water, remove and pat it dry.
Slice the onion, mince the garlic and very thinly slice the ginger.
Heat about 2-4 Tbl spoon of oil(karela demands this generous helping) and add the dry spice one by one and add the onion and garlic. One its sauted well, add the ginger, then add the sliced karelas, fry it for sometime till it softens.
Now those who do not mind absolute bitterness can add the scrapings too, I usually avoid!
Now add the dry spice except the besan and mango powder.
Once the spice blends well and coats the karelas, cover it on low flame, check it and keep stirring, add the sugar and salt.
Once it appears to be almost done, add the besan and mix it. Finally add the mango powder and cover for a minute and turn off the flame.

Another tried one.
During the early summer, green raw mangoes are abundance.Take a moderately sized mango.Slice it really fine.In the wok, heat oil, add cummin seeds, add the sliced mango and bittergourd slices.Keep sauting.
To give a crunchy taste it is at this stage I add slice of onion.
After the onion's color changes, add turmeric,cummin, coriander and chilli powder.
Once the vegetables are cooked, add salt and sugar as per taste.
Enjoy with hot phulkas.