Stir-Fried Bitter Melon, Eggplant & Daikon Radish

Karola Begun Mulo Bhaja

Bengalis generally begin their midday meal with bitter melon which can be prepared in many different ways. I usually combine 3, 5 or 7 vegetables. Today the bitter melon is stir-fried along with oriental eggplant and daikon radish. It's a simple dish, seasoned only with salt and a splash of mustard oil.

Ingredients:

1 bitter melon/ucche, de-seeded & cubed

1 oriental eggplant, cubed

1 daikon radish, peeled & cubed

4 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1/4 tsp. radhuni (wild celery seed)

salt to taste

1 Tbsp. mustard oil

Directions:

1. Heat oil over medium-high heat and sputter radhuni.
2. Stir-fry melon, eggplant, radish & salt to taste.
3. When vegetables are cooked, garnish with mustard oil.
4. Transfer to serving dish.

Serve with steamed rice as a first course of a Bengali meal.