The bitter melon is an an acquired taste but a much loved vegetable for those who have learnt to appreciate its unique taste. It is very good for you and actually counteracts diabetes. Which, if you are a bengali like me is just as well, because we have an incurable sweet tooth but are also very fond of the bitter melon.
I meant to post this recipe earlier in the week, but life got in the way. This is the bitter pre-curser much like myrrh, I promise to post sweetness before the week is over. Anyway, I feel like rotten mom of the year because I had promised the kids a small Christmas tree and by the time I got to the store all the little ones had gone. I did not want to be stuck with a big Christmas tree, so no Christmas tree this year. It is actually a rather solemn Christmas because we cannot do much by way of food because of my daughter’s bug which is actually begining to worry me now.
Back to the dish on hand, a bhorta is a well spiced relish that is enjoyed in particular in the East Bengali (Bangladeshi) style of cooking. This particular recipe is done the traditional way, with two exceptions. I have roasted the delicata and have been a little moderate in my use of chili peppers. But the recipe was really very good. Another victory for the delicata!
Roasted Delicata and Bitter Melon Relish (Kumro Korola Bhorta)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes mostly unattended
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
1 medium sized delicata squash
1 medium sized bitter melon
1 small red onion, cut into a very fine dice
1 green chili minced
4 tablespoons mustard oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon prepared commercial mustard
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Coarsely ground black pepper to garnish
Method of Preparation
1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds and place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
- 1 medium sized delicata squash
- 1 medium sized bitter melon
- 1 small red onion, cut into a very fine dice
- 1 green chili minced
- 4 tablespoons mustard oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon prepared commercial mustard
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Coarsely ground black pepper to garnish
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds and place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
- Cut the bittermelon into wedges and boil in some water for 20 minutes.
- Cool the squash and scoop out the flesh and place in a mixing bowl.
- Remove the central seeds from the bitter melon and place in a food process and process until finely chopped.
- Mash the bitter melon with the squash.
- Mix in red onion, green chili, mustard oil, salt, commercial mustard, cilantro and red pepper flakes and mix well.
- Place in a bowl and garnish with black pepper and serve with the meal or store and use as a relish as desired.
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