Indian-Bitter gourd
| Indian-Bitter gourd | |
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| Ripe and unripe fruit on vine | |
| Botanical illustration | |
Scientific classification 
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| Missing taxonomy template (fix): | Momordica |
| Species: | Template:Taxonomy/MomordicaM. charantia
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| Binomial name | |
| Template:Taxonomy/MomordicaMomordica charantia | |
Momordica charantia is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. It is also called bitter melon or bitter squash. It is grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. It is known for its bitter taste. The bitter melon more typical of India has a narrower shape with pointed ends and a surface covered with jagged, triangular "teeth" and ridges. It is green to white in colour. Between these two extremes are any number of intermediate forms. Some bear miniature fruit of only 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) in length, which may be served individually as stuffed vegetables. These miniature fruits are popular in Bangladesh, Republic of India, Pakistan, Nepal, and other countries in South Asia. The sub-continent variety is most popular in Bangladesh and India. Bitter gourd is commonly eaten throughout India. In North Indian cuisine, it is often served with yogurt on the side to offset the bitterness, used in curry such as sabzi, or stuffed with spices and then cooked in oil. In Northern India and Nepal, bitter melon, known as tite karela (तीते करेला) in Nepali, is prepared as a fresh pickle. For this, the vegetable is cut into cubes or slices, and sautéed with oil and a sprinkle of water. When it is softened and reduced, it is crushed in a mortar with a few cloves of garlic, salt, and a red or green pepper. It is also eaten sautéed to golden brown, stuffed, or as a curry on its own or with potatoes.
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Two halved and two cross sections
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Female flower
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Ripe fruit
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Leaf
Pakistan
In Pakistan, where it is known as Karela (کریلا) in Urdu-speaking areas, bitter melon is often cooked with onions, red chili powder, turmeric powder, salt, coriander powder, and a pinch of cumin seeds. Another dish in Pakistan calls for whole, unpeeled bitter melon to be boiled and then stuffed with cooked minced beef, served with either hot tandoori bread, naan, Chappati, or with khichri (a mixture of lentils and rice).
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