Kantola fry | Aakakarkaya vepudu

Kantola is also known as Aakakarkaya in Telugu, Teasel guard, kakrol, kankoda, phagil, phagla and kartole locally in some other parts of india. It is a spiny green gourd which have tiny spines appears during the monsoon in india. They tastes slightly bitter like karela/kakarkaya. Its a very healthy vegetable as it possess very good nutritive and medicinal properties. It is rich in fibre and vitamins and is cooling to the body.




Ingredients

500gm kantola
1 medium onion
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp corriander powder
1 sp grated jaggery
1 tsp raw mango powder
1 sp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsps oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp jeera
salt to taste


Instructions

1. Wash the kantola well, peel the skin lightly, and chop them
2. Take a pan, heat the oil, add mustard seeds when splutter add jeera, onions when they become soft add ginger garlic paste let it fry until nice aroma comes.
3. Add chopped kantola, turmeric mix well and cover with lid and cook for 5-7 min
4. Remove the lid add all the spices one by one, and adjust the taste and mix well.
5. Now cook with out covering with lid by stirring occasionally.
6. Finally Add jaggery, mix well and cook for 2,3 min more
7. Switch off the flame and serve with rice, also works well as a side dish with sambar, rasam.