Bitter gourd pickle

This post is dedicated to my brother in law- Manno bhai. It's for his love for bitter gourd that I attempted this pickle once. It's been a hit ever since. And recently at hostel I made every bitter gourd phobic taste this. No one stooped there after and my bottle is over. I have even got orders for this pickle and it happens to be my all time favourite. My mom has been my inspiration ever. She has a knack of making us eat what we hate the most in innovative ways. And its her skills transfered to me that helped me invent this. I keep changing my measurements every time so can you this is not my best attempt, I hope to improvise on and on....

Ingredients for Bitter gourd pickle

Bittergourd- 2 kgs

Garlic- 150 gm

Ginger sliced- 150 gm

Mustard seeds - 100 gm

Gingely oil- 250 ml ( for pickle gravy) + 250 ml for frying the bittergourd

Chilli powder- 6 tbsp

Kashmiri chilli powder- 6 tbsp

Turmeric powder- 4 tbsp

Asafoetida- 2 tbsp

Fenugreek powder- 2tbsp

Vinegar- 200 ml

Water- 200 ml

Salt- to taste

Directions

Apply some turmeric and chili powder and salt to sliced bitter gourd and leave it aside over night in refrigerator.

The turmeric powder and chilli powder mentioned for marination is apart from the measurement given in the ingredients. Once you refrigerate the bittergourd with salt and powder marination the bitterness reduces. Fry the bittergourd in oil and drain them.

Now heat the oil in a pot. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. In another pot heat water and vinegar. Bring it to boil and cool it later. Now to the mustard seeds add the turmeric, chilli , kashmiri chilli, asafoetida and fenugreek powder. Saute it for 5 minutes and dont let it burn. Add the garlic and sliced ginger into these spices and saute them. Add the fried  bitter gourd now followed by the boiled mixture of vinegar and salt. Let the pickle simmer for a while and then take the pot of the fire.