Bharli Karli | Sharwari Amod

Haunting memories of my childhood – Eating Karela.

My mother would insist that we eat Karela at all costs, but I would simply not budge. So she introduced us to this savoury delight called “BHARLI-KARLI”…

Steamed karela, stuffed with a magical filling of dry coconut, groundnuts, essential spices, onion, and sesame seeds.
This preparation is a must-have at our house now, liked by children and elders alike.

The aroma and the flavour, coupled with the health benefits of karela, will tempt you to give it a try instantly.

Bharli Karli

Method:

1. Step 1: Prepare the Karela
   • Steam the fresh karelas for about 15 minutes. Do not overcook.
   • Let them cool, then carefully remove the seeds using the back of a spoon. Set aside the hollowed karelas.
2. Step 2: Prepare the Stuffing
   • Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a pan.
   • Add asafoetida (hing), cumin seeds, chopped green chilies, and chopped onion. Sauté until the onion changes color.
   • Mix in ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, cumin powder, and coriander powder. Add a splash of water and cook well.
   • Stir in the roasted and crushed dry coconut, peanuts, sesame seeds, and salt. Cook until everything is well combined.
   • Finish with freshly chopped coriander. The stuffing is now ready.
3. Step 3: Stuff and Cook the Karela
   • Stuff the hollowed karelas generously with the prepared filling.
   • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan and gently stir-fry the stuffed karelas for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until they become crispy and golden.
   • Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot with bhakri.

Watch this recipe here – Bharli Karli

Sharwari, a Mumbai native, is trained as a fashion designer but she found her true calling for food and photography, amidst the beautiful landscapes of Kashmir, where she now lives.

Happiness for Sharwari comes from experimenting with flavours and colours in her kitchen each day. Her love for food is deeply rooted in the traditional Marathi recipes passed down from her mother and Aaji. As she journeyed through the world of recipes, spices, and flavours, Sharwari realised that she could spread happiness and bring wider smiles to people by sharing her culinary creations. And so, she set out on a mission to connect with like-minded individuals, eager to share her love for food and photography with the world.

^{Translations and detailed descriptions are provided to give a better understanding of the story to people from different cultural backgrounds across the globe.}