Karela
Karela is a striking and bitter fruit. The English name for the fruit is Bitter Gourd. Bitter Gourd is related to the cucumber but is mostly eaten as a vegetable. It is one of the best known vegetables in countries such as Taiwan, China, India and the Philippines. Karela is originally from Southeast Asia, but is now grown in a whole host of other countries with (sub)tropical climates.
How does Karela grow?
Bitter Gourd is an annual climbing plant that grows quickly and can reach 5 feet tall. The elongated fruits have a distinct and unattractive appearance. The fruits require a very warm and humid climate to grow. The seeds of the tree take 8 to 10 days to germinate at a soil temperature of between 15 and 20C. The important thing is that the fruits are picked at the right time. The right time is when the fruit is not too small or too young but also not too hard and fibrous. Fruit ripens twice as fast in warmer zones as in cooler zones.
The taste
The Karela is known for its very bitter taste.
Where can you buy Karela?
You can buy Bitter Gourd in the Netherlands mainly in the Surinamese, Asian and Turkish toko’s/supermarkets. Because the fruit belongs to the vegetable category, you can often find it on the vegetable shelf of the relevant toko or supermarket.
Nutritional value
Karela is known to be good for health. The fruit is rich in phosphorus this mineral supports the body in its metabolic processes. Furthermore, Karela has been shown to help purify the blood, aid in a good appetite and support the metabolism. Karela is also rich in a whole bunch of vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin C. In addition to phosphorus, Karela is also rich in potassium, folic acid, zinc and iron. In conclusion, Bitter Gourd is very healthy!
Recipes
Because Bitter Gourd has so many health benefits, the fruit is used in a lot of recipes. Below we will explain 5 recipes:
- Bitter Gourd with salt meat
- Bitter Gourd juice
- Sopropo soup
- Minced beef with Bitter Gourd
- Keema Bitter Gourd Curry
Questions about Karela?
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