Paavakka Varuval - Bitter Gourd Chips

PAAVAKKA VARUVAL 

 Eating a bitter gourd preparation at the start of a meal helps to activate the digestive juices resulting in good digestion. I prepare sambar, koottu, gojju or curry using Paavakka  (bitter gourd) very often, for its various health benefits. Occasionally I love to pamper the taste buds with PaavakkaVaruval  (Bitter Gourd Chips) too.

INGREDIENTS 

Bitter Gourd - 4 

Salt - 1 tsp 

Sambar powder - 1 tsp 

Turmeric powder - 1 pinch 

Asafoetida - 1 pinch 

Gram flour (Besan) - 2 tsps 

Rice flour - 2 tsps 

Oil - for frying 

METHOD 

1. Wash, wipe and cut bitter gourd into moderately thin slices. 

2. Remove the seeds if they are hard. 

3. Spread the cut slices on a towel so that all the moisture is absorbed. 

4. Mix all the powders and the bitter gourd slices together in a dry bowl. Let this mixture be absolutely dry. 

5. Heat a table spoon of oil and mix into the bitter gourd mixture. 

6. Take a handful of the vegetable mixture and sprinkle into hot oil. 

7. Fry batch by batch on medium flame till they become crisp. 

Enjoy the spicy and mildly bitter Paavakka Varuval with a hot  meal.