Sweet and sour bilimbi curry

Sweet and sour bilimbi curry

Bilimbi is a tropical sour vegetable which can be used as a souring agent  in place of lime, lemon, vinegar and tamarind in certain dishes. Read this article for background information and nutritional value of bilimbi.

Bilimbi

Here is a recipe for mild bilimbi curry. Bilimbi is sour; carrot is sweet; cucumber is bland. This combination of vegetables brings about a delicate balance in taste. This is watery gravy. If you want it to be thicker you can add 1 tablespoon of coriander powder or 1 tablespoon of corn starch or some rice milk.

Bilimbi, cucumber and carrot

Bilimbi cut into half

                                    Recipe  summary 
                                                For
                            Sweet and sour bilimbi curry

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4

1. Wash and slice 6 bilimbi (60 grams) lengthwise.

Bilimbi

2. Peel 100 grams cucumber and remove the core and the seeds. Slice into thick pieces. Peel and cut 150 grams carrot into strips (julienne).

3. In a medium size saucepan or a wok heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Add ½  tsp mustard seeds. After mustard seeds splutter add ½ tsp cumin seeds and ½ tsp fennel seeds and fry for ½ minute. Add one dry chili, and 50 grams roughly chopped onion and fry for 3 minutes.

4. Add 3 cloves chopped garlic, 2 grams grayed ginger, 1 thinly sliced green chili 1 thinly sliced red chili and 1 thinly sliced green chili 1 thinly sliced red chili and 1 sprig curry leaves and fry for another 3 minutes.

5. Add carrot and stir-fry.

6. Add 2 cups of water, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp curry powder and 1 tsp salt  Cover and bring to the boil and reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes or half done.

7. Add cucumber pieces and bilimbi pieces. Simmer for another 10 minutes. Bilimbi and cucumber are soft vegetables and therefore they cook fast. 

Sweet and sour bilimbi curry

8. Add 1 cup coconut milk and cook for two minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Let the gravy be slightly sour. If the gravy is too sour add some water and a little salt.It is a pleasant curry.


9. Bilimbi gravy can be served with rice and some  kinds of breads.

Sweet and sour bilimbi curry is ready.
                                  

                      Recipe follows in detail with pictures.

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients
Main
60 grams Bilimbi (6)
150 grams carrot julienne
100 grams cucumber
Others
50 grams onion roughly chopped
1 green chili thinly sliced
1 red chili thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic chopped
2 gram ginger.
1 sprig curry leaves chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup coconut milk
1 tea spoon salt

Onion,chili,garlic,ginger and curry leaves.

Spices
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 dry chili
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preparation
Wash and slice bilimbi lengthwise.

Sliced bilimbi

Peel the cucumber and remove the core and the seeds. Slice into thick pieces. Peel and cut carrot into strips.

Vegetables used for Sweet and sour bilimbi curry

Method

In a medium size saucepan or a wok heat the oil. Add mustard seeds.

After mustard seeds let them splutter. Add cumin and fennel seeds, fry for 1/2 minute and add dry chili, and onion and fry for 3 minutes.

Add garlic, ginger, green and red chili and curry leaves and fry for another 3 minutes.

Curry being cooked

Add carrot and stir-fry

Add 2 cups of water, turmeric powder, curry powder and salt.

 Cover and bring to the boil and reduce the heat and simmer 5 minutes.

Add cucumber pieces and bilimbi pieces. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
.
Bilimbi and cucumber are soft vegetables and therefore they cook fast.

Add coconut milk. Cook for two minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Let the gravy be slightly sour. If the gravy is too sour add some water and a little salt. It is a pleasant curry.

Coconut milk added.

Final stage.

 Bilimbi gravy can be served with rice and some kinds of breads.

Sweet and sour bilimbi curry