Karella Pickle

Ingredients:

1 large karella/bitter melon/bitter gourd, deseeded and finely chopped

1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped

1 large green chilly, finely chopped

1 tsp mustard seeds

2 tbsp oil

1 small lemon, juiced

2 tsp salt

Method: 

Place the chopped bitter gourd in a bowl. Heat the mustard seeds, ginger and green chilly in oil, till the mustard seeds sputter. Pour the mixture over the bitter gourd. Add in the lemon juice and salt and mix all the contents of the bowl well. Cover the bowl and leave at room temperature for 24 hours. The bitterness will disappear and the pickle will taste tangy and tart (like gooseberry).

Karella pickle has medicinal value (helps control blood pressure and cholesterol), and goes well with any rice dish.