Bitter Gourd fries (Pagarkai varuval)

Bitter gourd fry (pagarkai varuval) - Preparation time 20 mins

When mom make bitter gourd fries we enjoy eating it. It will be bitter, spicy and crispy. She will prepare this as a side dish for rasam rice but as usual we will finish eating before lunch and end up with appalam  for rasam rice. This can be taken as evening snacks also.

Ingredients:-
Bitter gourd - 2 medium size
Red chili powder - 2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Bengal gram flour - 2 tbsp
Rice flour - 2 tbsp
Water - if required
Oil - to deep fry

Preparation method:-
Slice the bitter gourd into thin circular pieces. If you like you can keep the seeds else you can remove it.
In a bowl mix bitter gourd, chili powder, salt. If you want you can increase the spice level by adding little more chili powder. Leave this for 15 minutes marination.


Heat the oil in a deep fry tawa.

In another vessel take 10 to 15 marinated pieces of bitter gourd and mix equal amount of flours.
Take care it should not be too soggy then only the fries will be crispy.
Add this mixture to hot oil and cook over medium flame. Remove from oil when the bubbles reduces and the colour changes slightly.

Transfer to a tissue to remove excess oil.
It will surely be bitter but we loved it. Try out and put your feedback.