Healthy karela pakoda

Name: Healthy karela pakoda
Total time: 1200 s
Yield: 3 people
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 4 – Karela (bitter gourd); 1/2 cup – Gram flour (besan); 2 tbsp – Rice flour; 1/2 tsp – Turmeric powder; 1 tsp – Red chili powder; 1/2 tsp – Coriander powder; 1/2 tsp – Cumin powder; 1 tbsp – Lemon juice; as needed Salt; 2 tsp – Oil (for coating and cooking); Few sprigs – Fresh coriander leaves (for garnish)

Janki Badiyani @parthesh

#CA2025
Healthy karela pakoda is a light, crispy snack made from bitter gourd slices coated in a spiced flour mix and cooked using minimal oil (air-fried, baked, or pan-fried instead of deep-fried). It keeps the bitterness balanced and retains karela’s medicinal properties.

Janki Badiyani @parthesh

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Ingredients

20 minutes

3 people

4– Karela (bitter gourd)
1/2 cup– Gram flour (besan)
2 tbsp– Rice flour
1/2 tsp– Turmeric powder
1 tsp– Red chili powder
1/2 tsp– Coriander powder
1/2 tsp– Cumin powder
1 tbsp– Lemon juice
as neededSalt
2 tsp– Oil (for coating and cooking)
Few sprigs – Fresh coriander leaves (for garnish)

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Steps

20 minutes

1

1. Prepare Karela:
Wash and slice 4 medium karela lengthwise (as in your image).
Sprinkle a little salt and turmeric rest for 20 minutes.
Squeeze out the water to reduce bitterness.
2

2. Make the Coating:
In a bowl, mix: ½ cup gram flour, 2 tbsp rice flour, ½ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chili powder, ½ tsp coriander powder, ½ tsp cumin powder, and salt.
Add 1 tbsp lemon juice and a little water (just enough to coat, not a runny batter).
3

3. Coat Karela:
Add the slices and coat well with the mixture.
Drizzle 2 tsp oil and mix.
4

4. Cook (Choose one method):
Air Fryer: Preheat to 180°C and air-fry karela for 12–15 min, flipping halfway.
Pan Fry: Heat a non-stick pan, lightly grease, and cook on medium flame until both sides are crispy.
5

5. Serve:
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot