Crispy Bitter Gourd Chips & Sri Lankan Karavila Salad Recipes

(Updated Version)

Growing bitter gourd aligns beautifully with Nava’s Zen philosophy. The glossy, dark green fruits are stunning but don’t last long, prompting a cycle of growth. After initial setbacks, I’m ready to cultivate them again.

Cultivating bitter gourd is straightforward - you can either dry the seeds or use them directly from your cooking. To my delight, seeds from my kitchen have sprouted new plants.

The image above features a Vegetarian Home Style Thali Set, showcasing Bitter Gourd Chips, Mango Chutney, Cauliflower Turmeric, and Dried Sundakkai (Turkey Berry) Curry. Known as "Karela" in Hindi and "Karavila" in Sinhala, bitter gourd offers numerous health benefits, such as regulating blood sugar and aiding digestion. 

While its inherent bitterness can be off-putting, crispy fried chips are a hit. Soaking in salt water for a few minutes can help, but should we eliminate all the bitterness? After all, the bitter compounds contribute to its health benefits (VEGETARIAN MUTTON RECIPES).

I’m excited to share my simple Bitter Gourd Chips recipe (INDIAN DESSERTS SWEET DELIGHTS), along with an enhanced version and a Sri Lankan Bitter Gourd Salad. 

Easiest Pavakkai Poriyal/Crispy Fried Bitter Gourd Chips

This simple recipe uses everyday ingredients for crispy fried bitter gourd, perfect as a quick snack.

Ingredients
5 bitter gourds, sliced thin, soaked in salt water for 10 minutes, rinsed, and squeezed dry.
1 tbsp plain chili powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
Salt to taste

Frying
Heat oil in a pan.
Mix bitter gourd slices with chili powder and salt.
Fry in batches until crispy. If the mixture becomes soggy, gently squeeze out the liquid before frying.
Drain excess oil on kitchen paper and store in an airtight container.

Karela Crispy Chips
This version uses cornflour for a better crunch and is enhanced with the aroma of curry leaves.

Ingredients
4 medium Indian bitter gourds - seeds removed, sliced thin, soaked in salt water for 10 minutes, and squeezed dry.
1/2 tbsp plain chili powder
1/2 tbsp plain curry powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
1 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tbsp corn flour
1 tsp rice flour
3-4 sprigs curry leaves, shredded
Salt to taste
Oil for frying

Method
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, adding a little water if necessary.
Heat oil and fry the bitter gourd in batches until crispy and light brown.
Drain on a kitchen towel and garnish with curry leaves before serving.

Sri Lankan Karavila Salad/Bitter Gourd Salad
For this salad, the bitter gourd is prepared similarly by frying but tossed with fresh ingredients.

Ingredients
Sliced bitter gourd, mixed with salt and turmeric before frying
Sliced green chilies (optional: remove seeds)
Tomatoes (seeds removed)
Sliced shallots
Coriander leaves, sliced
Lime juice to taste
Salt to taste

Method
Fry the bitter gourd until crispy.
Toss the fried bitter gourd with green chilies, tomatoes, shallots, coriander leaves, lime juice, and salt.