Bitter Gourd Pickle, also known as Karela Ka Achar, is made from slices of bitter gourd, green chilies, garlic, a few aromatic seeds, lemon juice and other ingredients. Follow my step-by-step guide to make bitter gourd pickle at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Bitter gourd pickle is a unique Indian condiment.
- Store the pickle in an airtight container in the fridge to preserve its quality.
- Serve the pickle with Indian bread, rice dishes, sandwiches, wraps, vegetable curries, dal, South Indian dishes, salads, or grilled meats.
- Bitter gourd pickle tastes bitter, spicy, and tangy.
- Other similar pickles are Chili Pickle (Mirch ka Achar), Mango Pickle (Aam ka Achar). Radish Pickle (Mooli ka Pickle), Carrot Pickle (Gajar ka Achar), Lime Pickle (Limboo ka Achar), and Garlic Pickle (Lehsun ka Achar).
The Ingredients:
- 1½ cup bitter gourd
- 1 piece green chili
- 8 cloves garlic
- 2 cups refined oil
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 2.5 tsp red chili powder
- ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
I came across this pickle recipe from a friend’s grandmother at a naming ceremony at their place. She had brought this dish in a big copper vessel, and it caught everyone’s attention. I could not resist myself from asking resist asking how it was made. She smiled and said, “Old hands, simple steps,” and narrated them to me.
I made it the next week. My husband said it felt like a blessing, and my sons said it tasted like tradition. Now, it is our celebration-day dish. That moment reminded me that wisdom does not always speak loudly; it rather simmers gently over time, passed down with care, one recipe at a time.
How to Make Bitter Gourd Pickle? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Take a mixing bowl and add 1½ cups of bitter gourd, 8 to 10 slitted green chilies, 8 garlic cloves, and 2 cups of oil. Mix them well.
Step 2: Now add ½ tsp turmeric powder, 1.5 tsp salt, and 2.5 tsp red chili powder. Mix it very well.
Step 3: Take a frying pan and heat it. Add 1/4th tsp of fenugreek seeds and sauté until you get a nice aroma. Now, turn off the flame.
Step 4: Add 1 tsp of mustard seeds and sauté. Allow it to cool down for some time.
Step 5: Take those seeds and grind them into a fine powder.
Step 6: Now, simply mix the spice blend with the bitter gourds.
Step 7: Add 2 tsp of sugar to the spice mix.
Step 8: Pour 1/3rd cup of lemon juice into it.
Step 9: Store it for 3 days, and it’s ready to serve.
Recipe Card
Bitter Gourd Pickle | Karela ka Achar
Ingredients
- 1½ cup bitter gourd
- 1 piece green chili
- 8 cloves garlic
- 2 cups refined oil
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 2.5 tsp red chili powder
- ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
Instructions
- Take a mixing bowl and add 1½ cups of bitter gourd, 8 to 10 slitted green chilies, 8 garlic cloves, and 2 cups of oil. Mix them well.
- Now add ½ tsp turmeric powder, 2.5 tsp salt, and 1.5 tsp red chili powder. Mix it very well.
- Take a frying pan and heat it. Add 1/4th tsp of fenugreek seeds and sauté until you get a nice aroma. Now, turn off the flame.
- Add 1 tsp of mustard seeds and sauté. Allow it to cool down for some time.
- Take those seeds and grind them into a fine powder.
- Now, simply mix the spice blend with the bitter gourds.
- Add 2 tsp of sugar to the spice mix.
- Pour 1/3rd cup of lemon juice into it.
- Store it for 3 days, and it's ready to serve.
