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IIE DIGITAL: Many children refuse to eat bitter gourd, turning away the moment they see its bitter taste. However, during the monsoon season, health experts often recommend including bitter foods in the diet to help protect against seasonal infections and illnesses.

For parents struggling to make kids eat bitter gourd, there is a simple solution: give it a tasty makeover. Bitter gourd can be transformed into crunchy and flavourful snacks that children may actually enjoy.

From crispy bitter gourd chips to stuffed toast and cutlets, renowned chef Kunal Kapur has shared some interesting recipes that use less oil and fewer spices, making them suitable for children.

·         Wash 2-3 bitter gourds properly and slice them into thin round pieces. Rinse the slices in salt water and drain out the excess moisture. Then marinate them with salt, turmeric and lemon juice for around 10-15 minutes. This helps reduce the strong bitterness of the vegetable.

Next, coat the slices with black salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder, amchur powder, corn starch and gram flour. Make sure the spices cover each piece well.

·         Heat a little oil in a pan and shallow fry the coated bitter gourd slices until they turn golden and crispy on both sides. Serve them hot with coriander or mint chutney for a crunchy snack.

Wash the bitter gourds and cut them lengthwise. Remove the seeds and lightly steam them.

Prepare the stuffing by mixing boiled potatoes, paneer, onion and green chilli. Add a little turmeric, chilli powder and roasted cumin powder for extra flavour.

Fill the bitter gourds with this mixture, dip them in gram flour batter and coat with breadcrumbs. Shallow fry until golden and crispy on both sides.

For a healthier version, they can also be cooked in an air fryer at 180°C for around 20 minutes until crunchy.

Finely chop 2-3 bitter gourds and wash them well in salt water before draining. Chop vegetables like carrots, beans and potatoes separately.

·         Heat a little oil in a pan, add cumin seeds and let them crackle. Add ginger paste, followed by bitter gourd and other vegetables. Cook everything together with turmeric, chilli powder, cumin powder, salt and a little sweetness according to taste.

Once the vegetables are cooked, add chaat masala and chopped coriander leaves. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then shape it into cutlets.

Coat the cutlets with breadcrumbs and lightly roast them with minimal oil until they become crisp and golden.

With these creative recipes, bitter gourd can become a tasty and exciting snack option for children instead of a vegetable they avoid.