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When most of us think of bitter gourd, better known as karela in Indian households, we think of an utterly bitter-tasting vegetable that we’ve spent most of our lives running away from. Well, as it turns out, karela is actually a fruit because it is seed-bearing but of course, culinarily it is a vegetable.
We might have spent a lot of time ignoring it but the truth is you’ve also been ignoring its benefits which are quite a few in number.
Karela is actually extremely rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, folate, zinc, and iron. In fact, just a cup of karela can give you 93% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin C which will help you boost immunity and prevent diseases. Moreover, it will help you cover 44% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin A which can help keep your skin glowing and is extremely important for good vision.
Turns out, the humble karela also has some terrific medicinal benefits. In fact, it is extremely good for people who have diabetes. A study titled Antidiabetic effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) and its medicinal potency published on PubMed Central showed that eating karela every day can help manage blood sugar levels for diabetic patients.
The fact that it has a lot of fibre means that it will keep your digestion on track. Moreover, it means that it will help you keep satiated for long and prevent you from feeling hungry. This can further help those who are trying to bring down their weight.
So, we’ve given you quite a few reasons to add karela to your diet. However, we understand that you still might be holding yourself back because of the taste. That’s why we’ve brought you this excellent snack recipe!
Roasted karela chips make for a yummy snack and are also extremely healthy! What’s more, they’re really easy to make and take very little time as well as effort. Here’s how to make it!
Things you’ll need:
3 karela, cut into circles
Salt, according to taste
½ tbsp pepper
1 tbsp amchur powder
1 tbsp garam masala
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1. Start by chopping the karela into circles.
2. Sprinkle salt on the slices. Note: You can fix this according to your taste but it is always better to stay on the lower side.
3. Add amchur, garam masala, and pepper.
4. Using your hands, squeeze the excess water from the karela. Alternatively, you can leave them out to dry. Note: While squeezing will be quicker, drying will ensure proper marination.
5. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.
6. Bake the karela in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
Eat the karela chips and welcome health into your life!
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