Bitter Melon (Small)

Vegetables

Indian bitter melon, or karela, is a spiky, ridged fruit of Momordica charantia. Compared to the smoother, longer Chinese type, Indian bitter melon is shorter, darker, and more intensely bitter. It is a staple vegetable in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Nepali cuisines, often stuffed, fried, or cooked with spices to balance its bitterness. Medicinally, it has been used in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine for its potential role in regulating blood sugar, improving digestion, and cleansing the body. The fruit is harvested immature, as ripened bitter melon turns yellow-orange and becomes even more bitter.