Momordica charantia | Bitter Melon | Karela | Pavakka | Hagalkai
Bitter gourd, known as karela in Hindi and pavakka in Malayalam, is a knobby, dark green vegetable with an intensely bitter taste unlike any other. While its flavour demands an acquired palate, it is one of the most medicinally valued vegetables in Ayurvedic and traditional Asian medicine — a bitter pill with extraordinary health rewards.
Health Benefits
Nutrition: Calories: 17 kcal | Vitamin C: very high | Iron: good | Carbs: 3.7g (per 100g)
Culinary Uses: Cooked as karela sabzi, stuffed with spiced fillings, or made into pavakka theeyal in Kerala cuisine. Juice is consumed raw for medicinal purposes. Used in Chinese bitter melon stir-fry.
Bitter gourd, known as karela in Hindi and pavakka in Malayalam, is a knobby, dark green vegetable with an intensely bitter taste unlike any other. While its flavour demands an acquired palate, it is one of the most medicinally valued vegetables in Ayurvedic and traditional Asian medicine — a bitter pill with extraordinary health rewards.
