Bitter Gourd with Long Beans

Bitter Gourd with Long Beans (പാവയ്ക്കയും പയറും)

Bitter gourd (പാവയ്ക്ക) is well known for it's health benefit. Doctors today recommend bitter gourd for it's iron content and many vitamins contained in it. It is also scientifically proven that bitter gourd can reduce the glucose levels in the blood and beneficial to the people with diabetes. Many people are averse to the dishes made out of bitter gourd because of the bitter taste. However there were many techniques used by the older generations to mask the bitterness and prepare tasty combinations with bitter gourd. Some of those combinations worth mentioning are bitter gourd with dried shark fish, bitter gourd with jack fruit seeds, bitter gourd with long beans.

In this recipe I will cover the traditional dish of bitter gourd with the long beans prepared in Kerala.

Ingredients:
(This will serve approximately 5 to 6 people):

1) Bittergourd (paavaykka)    250gm

2) Long beans (payar)            200gm

3) Onion big             1, chopped well
   Green chilly           6, chopped well
   Fresh coconut        1/2 medium-sized,grated
   Salt                         As needed
   Ginger                    Small piece, chopped well

4) Coconut oil           1 tbsp

5) Mustard seeds       1 tsp

6) Curry leaves          1 sprig

Method of preparation:

1) Chop the Bitter gourd in to small pieces (kothi ariyuka).
2) Chop the Longbeans also small pieces.
3) Mix the above two together with hands and in this add ingredients under 3. Mix well.
4) Heat oil in a pan and sprinkle in mustard seeds. When they start sputtering add curry leaves stirr well. Add  the above mixture in to it, stirr well ater after that cover the pan with a lid. Keep the flame high when it half cooked after that keep the flame low till it cooked well.