Ingredients
1. Bitter gourd / Pavakka – 2 medium, cut into two lengthwise and thinly sliced
Pearl onions(kunjulli) – 1/2 cup, halved
2. Grated coconut – 1.5 – 2 cups
3. Chilly Powder – 2 tsp
Coriander Powder – 2 – 3 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
Fenugreek powder – 1/4 tsp
4. Green chilies – 3 – 4, slit
5. Curry leaves – 1 – 2 sprigs
6. Tamarind – lemon-sized or to taste
7. Salt - To taste
8. Coconut oil – 1.5 – 2 tbsp
For the Seasoning
9. Coconut oil – 1.5 tsp
10. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
11. Few curry leaves
12. Dry red chilies – 2
Method
1. Soak tamarind in 1/4 cup lukewarm water. Extract its juice and keep aside.
2. Fry the grated coconut in a pan till it becomes brown, stirring continuously, at medium heat. Lower the heat and add the spice powders, numbered 3, and stir for a few seconds. Make sure not to burn them. Set aside to cool. Grind to a very fine paste without adding water (If its really difficult to grind, you can add a little water). Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan, at medium heat. Add the sliced pavakka pieces, sliced pearl onions, green chilies, few curry leaves and saute until the pavakka pieces are half done or until its raw taste is gone. Add tamarind extract, enough water (just to cover the bitter gourd pieces) and salt. Bring to a boil and then add roasted coconut paste. Lower the heat and cook until the pavakka is done and the gravy thickens.
4. In a small pan, heat coconut oil and splutter mustard seeds. Fry dry red chillies and curry leaves. Pour this over the curry. Mix well. Set aside for 10 minutes. Serve hot with rice.
Tips
1. Bitter gourd can be replaced with egg plant for egg plant / vazhuthananga theeyal (slice them into 1” pieces). You could also prepare theeyal with snake gourd (padavalanga), pearl onions (ulli), drumstick (muringakka), elephant yam (chena) etc. In case of snake gourd, drumstick and chena theeyal, you don’t need to saute the pieces in oil. Just cook the pieces in enough water, sliced pearl onions, turmeric powder, salt, tamarind extract, curry leaves etc and add ground coconut paste when done and pour the seasoning.
2. You can avoid pearl onions if you are preparing it for sadya.
Never knew that we could make theeyal with pavakka.. will surely give this a try…
Pavakka Theeyal look so tempting. Bitter gourd in any form is welcome in our house.You recipe is a bit different than what we make at home.Will try your version soon.
adipoli theeyal..and this is exactly how I’ll make it :-)nalla perfect varakkal ketto…color kandal ariyam..
Oh it looks Yummy O Yummy. 🙂
Adipoli pavakka theeyal ente favorite.
That looks ridiculously good!
US Masala
Super aayittundu…very yummy recipe…
Daivame, eny ennanavo pavakka storil available akuwa, ethu kanditte enikipol tahnne undakki kazhikan thonanund ketto..As Nami said, aa thenga varukal okke perfect aytund…Yummo!!!
Very healthy, spicy and easy to prepare recipe.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
this is my fav curry…my mom makes the best theyal..slurp….feeling home sick now…
Wow..that looks super super tempting..nice recipe..thanks for sharing!
Looks Perfect with color and flavour.How to resist a real theeyal ? Loved it !!
Wow the colore and the bitter guard looks absolutely mouthwatering.. excellent.
healthy theeyal!!looks crispy and yummy!! perfect with rice…
Healthy delicious theeyal……
nice click dear 🙂
very healthy!!!
അയ്യോ ദാ പാവയ്ക്കാ തീയല്!!! അതും നല്ല കിടു look!!!
iyooooooooooooo kothiyavunnu..vishakunne…adipoli..
i was scouting around ur page yesterday for a padavalanga thoran….
i think my next theeyal would be pearl onion 🙂
Looks so delicious and loved the colour of the curry 🙂
wowww…. this is really a treat to eyes.. looks stunning. 🙂
Wow wat an irresistible theeyal,truly inviting..
wat a healthy theeyal,luks very tempting…
ayyo pavakka theeyal ente fav anu spicy and delicious
Kothiyavunnu,my favorite theeyal,looks so delicious.
Adipoli theeyal..Ulli theeyal and pavakka theeyal are my fav:-)
Wow..that looks super super tempting..nice recipe..
Theeyal from pavakka??? Awesome!! Looks like a fantastic & mouth watering dish 😉
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
I’m drooling 🙂 adipoli
authentic n delicious..:P
Tasty Appetite
Delicious theeyal, very inviting!
http://www.appetitetreats.com
Wow curry looks spicy and delicious..
Not a big fan of bitter gourd. But this looks gorgeous !
Cheers,
Satrupa
http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com
adipoli..enta oru colour ..njangalum same method anu theeyal undakane…
Hello Maya,
This one is perfect 🙂
Will try for sure.. errr… Will ask achu to try for sure 😛
Hello Maya,
This one is perfect 🙂
Will try for sure.. errr… Will ask achu to try for sure 😛
Tried the pavakka theeyal for dinner tonight.
Felt it a little too oily, but was really very tasty 🙂
Rusheeda,
Thanks a lot for trying it out 🙂 Theeyal is more oily compared to the other Kerala curries. The roasted coconut, will start oozing out oil, once it is ground. You can skip seasoning if you want but it tastes best that way..
WOW..PAVAKKA THEEYAL LOOKS ABSOLUTELY YUMMYY…theeyal ende fav aanu….nyan eppom vannam kurakkan ulla shramathila….pakshe ethu kandittu oru raksheyum illa, mikkavarum udane thanne undakkendi varum…
are these pics clicked while ur trial cooking??
Tried it. Really good. The taste is similar to the theeyal I had when growing up in Kerala. Thanks.
Thanks for your feedback, Kala! Great to know that you enjoyed this dish..