Ambade Kaarle Lonche (Hog Plums & Bitter Gourd Pickle)
Cuisine: Coastal Karnataka | Course: Side Dish | Diet: Vegetarian
Ambade Kaarle Lonche is a flavorful South Indian-style pickle from Karnataka’s Karwari GSB (Goud Saraswat Brahmin) cuisine, which combines the tangy taste of hog plums (Amtekai) with the slight bitterness of bitter gourd (Karela). Known for its unique balance of sweet and savory flavors, this pickle features the use of jaggery, much like the Udupi cuisine. It’s simple yet highly flavorful, making it a perfect accompaniment to rice and other meals.
Ingredients
- 6 Hog Plums (Amtekai)
- 1 Bitter Gourd (Karela / Pavakkai)
- 6 tablespoons Jaggery
- Salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
- For Tempering:
- 1 tablespoon Oil
- 1/4 teaspoon Mustard Seeds (Rai / Kadugu)
- 1/4 teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds (Methi)
- 4 Green Chillies
- 2 pinches Asafoetida (Hing)
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Instructions
-
Prepare the Bitter Gourd:
Scrape the outer layer of the bitter gourd. If the seeds are not tender, clean them. Slice the bitter gourd lengthwise into 2-inch strips. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (about 1/4 teaspoon) and set aside for an hour to reduce the bitterness. -
Remove Excess Water:
After an hour, rinse the salted bitter gourd slices and squeeze out any excess water. This process helps remove much of the bitterness. -
Stir Fry the Bitter Gourd:
Heat some oil in a pan and stir-fry the drained bitter gourd slices until they soften. Set them aside. -
Make the Tempering:
In a separate heavy-bottomed pan or kadai, heat oil. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Then, immediately add fenugreek seeds, green chillies, and asafoetida (hing). Saute on low heat until fragrant. -
Cook the Hog Plums:
Add turmeric powder and the hog plums to the tempering mixture. Stir well. Add about 4 tablespoons of water to help cook the hog plums. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and simmer until the hog plums soften. -
Combine the Ingredients:
Once the hog plums are cooked, add the stir-fried bitter gourd strips, jaggery, and salt. Cook until the jaggery melts and combines with the mixture. If needed, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to prevent the jaggery from becoming too stiff when it cools. -
Cool and Store:
Let the pickle cool to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer it to a jar and store.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Ambade Kaarle Lonche as a side dish with steamed rice, Karwar-style Muga Ambat, and Puri (Puffed Fried Indian Bread) for a traditional coastal Karnataka meal.
Enjoy this sweet, tangy, and slightly bitter pickle as a delightful accompaniment to your meals!
