Karela / LB

Fresh Karela (Bitter Gourd) by the Pound for Authentic South Asian Cooking

Fresh karela, sold by the pound, brings the bold, bitter bite that so many South Asian home cooks look for in everyday sabzi and festive thalis. Buying by weight lets you pick up exactly what you need, whether that is a few gourds for a weeknight stir-fry or a bigger batch for stuffing. Firm, bright green gourds with tight ridges give the best texture in the pan.

Why Cooks Love It: Key Features
• Sold loose by the pound, so you can buy for one meal or a full week of cooking
• Crisp, ridged flesh that holds its shape when fried, stuffed, or simmered
• Distinctly bitter flavor that balances rich masalas, jaggery, and tangy tamarind
• A popular vegetable across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka
• Pairs naturally with onions, besan, fennel seeds, and amchur

Nutrition at a Glance
Karela is a low-calorie vegetable that is naturally a source of vitamin C and dietary fiber. Values vary with the size and ripeness of each gourd, so enjoy it as part of a balanced, vegetable-rich diet.

Regional Cooking Ideas
• Bharwan karela (Punjab): slit gourds stuffed with onion, fennel, and amchur masala, then pan-roasted
• Pavakkai pitlai (Tamil Nadu): a tangy tamarind and lentil gravy with roasted coconut
• Kakarakaya fry (Andhra): thin slices crisped with red chili powder and a pinch of jaggery
• Shukto (Bengal): a mild mixed-vegetable dish where bitter gourd traditionally opens the meal
• Karela pyaz sabzi: a simple home-style stir-fry with plenty of caramelized onion

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I make karela less bitter?
Lightly scrape the ridges, slice, then rub with salt and a little turmeric and rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Squeeze out the liquid and rinse before cooking.

2. How should I store fresh karela?
Keep it unwashed in a paper bag or loosely wrapped in the refrigerator crisper and use it within a few days. Gourds turning yellow or orange are overripe and softer.

3. Should I remove the seeds?
Tender seeds can be cooked, but mature, hard seeds are best scooped out, especially for stuffed recipes.

Add fresh karela to your next produce order at SubziCart.com and bring a taste of home to the dinner table.