Spicy Pavakka Podi

This is a spicy blend of Pavakka/Karela/Kakarakaya. I personally have immense dislike to the bitter , bitter gourd.I eat it only when it is made this way, where you dont get to taste the bitternes of this vegetable.Mom used to make & store this and use it as a "emergency curry".
I made this podi for lunch on sunday.Was hoping on storing it for a couple of days , but S liked it so much that he finished it in one day !!

Ingredients for the Spice blend

* Bengal gram - 1tbsp
* Urad Dal - 1/2tbsp
* Coriander seeds - 2tsp
* Cumin seeds - 1tsp
* Dry red chillies - 10 nos
* Tamarind - nutmeg sized ball
* Garlic Cloves - 4
* Ginger piece- 1 inch , grated
* Oil - 1/2tsp
* Salt - acc to your taste

The Main Ingredients
* Bitter gourd - 4
* Onion - 1 small, choped
* Salt - a pinch
* Oil - 2 tsp
* Cumin & mustard seeds, curry leaves - for popu(tadka)

Heat oil in a pan.
Add all of the spice ingredients to the pan except for tamarind and salt.
Fry until the seeds start turning slightly brown. Then grind it along with tamarind and salt into a coarse powder.

Chop the bitter gourd into small pieces, add salt to these pieces and let them sit for atleast 30 mins. Then squeeze the bitter gourd pieces and discard juice. If you like the bitter gourd bitter, then skip the soaking in salt and squeezing part.

Heat oil in a pan. Add the cumin & mustard seeds to the pan when they start sputtering add the curry leaves in. Now add the onion and then the bitter gourd pieces.
Fry the onions and the bitter gourd until it is of a dry consistency.
Now add the spice blend prepared above to this, fry for a minute or two and turn off the heat.

This powder goes well with plain rice and ghee.