Baked Karela Chips – Turning Bitterness right into a Crispy Delight !

November 6, 2025

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Baked Karela Chips are skinny, crispy slices of bitter gourd seasoned with spices and baked to perfection for a wholesome, flavourful snack.

If you’d informed me a number of years in the past that I’d be snacking on karela chips by alternative, I’d have laughed. Growing up, bitter gourd was a type of greens I’d keep away from in any respect prices. But as soon as I began experimenting in my kitchen, I noticed that even probably the most “unloved” substances can shock you when cooked in a different way.

That’s how these Baked Karela (Bitter Gourd) Chips got here to life. It began one night once I wished one thing crunchy to go together with my chai however didn’t need to attain for a packet of store-bought chips. I noticed a number of karela sitting within the fridge, ready for use, and thought — why not?

Steps to make these Baked Karela Chips :

To make these baked karela chips, begin by washing the karela completely and slicing them into skinny, even rounds. If you discover any laborious seeds inside, take away them gently. To scale back the bitterness, you may sprinkle a little bit salt over the slices and go away them apart for about fifteen minutes. This helps draw out the surplus bitterness. After that, squeeze out the launched water and pat the slices dry.

Next, take a mixing bowl and add a tablespoon of oil together with turmeric powder, pink chili powder, cumin powder, chaat masala, and salt. Mix every part properly, then add the karela slices to the bowl. Toss them gently till every slice is evenly coated with the spice combination. The objective is to coat the karela with out making it too oily — simply sufficient for the spices to stay and bake fantastically.

Now, line a baking tray with parchment paper and unfold the slices in a single layer so that they bake evenly. Place the tray in a preheated oven at 180°C and bake for about fifteen to twenty minutes. Halfway by way of, flip the slices as soon as to make sure they crisp up on either side. You’ll discover the sides turning golden and barely curled after they’re prepared.

Once finished, take the tray out and let the chips cool fully. They’ll proceed to crisp up a bit as they cool. Store them in an hermetic container to maintain them crunchy — although actually, they’re so good, you won’t have many left to retailer!

Why you’ll love Baked Karela Chips ?

Light and wholesome, made with only a drizzle of oil
Crisp and crunchy with a balanced taste — not overwhelmingly bitter
Perfect for tea-time snacking and even as a crunchy topping in your dal or khichdi
Easy to make with on a regular basis spices

Tips :

Slice the karela thinly and evenly for uniform crispiness.
Watch carefully close to the tip — they flip from crisp to burnt shortly.
You may even air-fry them at 180°C for 10–12 minutes for a faster model.

Serving solutions :

These chips are nice on their very own with night chai, however in addition they make a enjoyable topping for salads, rice bowls, or curd rice. They add a beautiful crunch and a touch of bitterness that balances wealthy or creamy dishes completely.

Frequently Asked Questions :

1. Can I make these Baked Karela Chips upfront?
Yes, you may simply make them forward of time. Once the chips cool fully, retailer them in an hermetic container at room temperature. They’ll keep crisp for about 3 to 4 days.

2. Can I exploit an air fryer as an alternative of an oven?
Absolutely. Air frying works fantastically for this recipe. First, Preheat your air fryer to 180°C and prepare dinner the seasoned karela slices for round 10–12 minutes, shaking the basket midway by way of for even crisping.

3. How can I scale back the bitterness of karela?
Sprinkling a little bit salt over the slices and letting them relaxation for quarter-hour helps draw out the surplus bitterness. After that, squeeze out the water and proceed with the recipe.

4. My chips turned tender after cooling. What went unsuitable?
That often occurs in the event that they weren’t absolutely crisp earlier than eradicating from the oven, or in the event that they have been saved earlier than cooling fully. You can reheat them within the oven for 3–4 minutes at 150°C to convey again the crunch.

5. Can I skip oil fully?
A small quantity of oil helps the spices stick and offers the chips their good texture. But when you favor, you may flippantly spray oil as an alternative of blending it in.

6. Are these chips appropriate for youths?
Yes, so long as you modify the spice stage. These baked chips make a fantastic wholesome different to store-bought snacks.

My takeaway :

Sometimes, it simply takes a little bit curiosity to rework the way you have a look at an ingredient. Karela, which I as soon as disliked, is now one thing I get pleasure from experimenting with. And these Baked Karela Chips are a type of pleased kitchen discoveries that show wholesome snacking doesn’t must be boring.

So the following time you convey dwelling karela, give this recipe a strive — you may simply shock your self too.

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