Kakarakaya Bajji

🧺 Ingredients

🔪 For Preparing Bitter Gourd:

• 2–3 medium kakarakaya (bitter gourds)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp lemon juice (optional – helps reduce bitterness)

🧂 For Bajji Batter:

• ¾ cup besan (gram flour)
• 2 tbsp rice flour (for extra crispiness)
• ½ tsp ajwain (carom seeds) or cumin
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 pinch hing (asafoetida) (optional)
• Salt – to taste
• Water – to make batter
• Oil – for deep frying

👩‍🍳Recipe

Step 1:

- Wash and thinly slice bitter gourd into rings.

- Remove seeds if needed. Soak in salted water for 10–15 minutes to reduce bitterness.

Step 2:

- In a bowl, mix besan, rice flour, red chili powder, turmeric, ajwain, salt, and baking soda.

Step 3:

- Add water little by little to make a thick but flowing batter. Make sure there are no lumps.

Step 4:

- Heat oil in a deep frying pan on medium flame.

Step 5:

- Dip each bitter gourd ring in the batter and drop it gently into hot oil.

Step 6:

- Fry until golden brown and crisp from both sides. Remove and drain on paper towels.

Step 7:

- Serve hot with tomato ketchup or mint chutney.