Bitter Gourd Fry / Pavakka fry

Ever since we have got oven at home, I am looking for opportunities to bake various dishes. Today I wanted to make Pavakka / Bitter Gourd Fry. The usual method is to deep fry them in oil to get the crispiness that I was looking for. Then squeeze oil from them, using paper tissues which is not a viable option as crispy bitter gourd pieces would break easily. So I thought of baking them:). Here's what I did and it turned out nicely. More importantly I didnt have to use any oil and I was over the moon :) 

Ingredients:  

1 Pavakka ( Bitter Gourd) - Cut into round slices.

1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric

1/2 Teaspoon Chilli powder

Salt

Prepping: ( 5 min) 

Take bitter gourd slices in a vessel. Add turmeric, chilli powder and salt and Mix well. 

Method of preparing: ( 30 min)

Step 1: 

Preheat oven to 350 F or 170 C for 10 minutes. Preheating means switching on the oven and keeping at the right temperature (350 F) for around 10 minutes during which the oven gets heated up well.  

Step 2: 

Take a Baking Tray and place a parchment paper on it. Keep Bitter gourd slices in rows with space between each slice and each row. 

Place the baking tray inside the oven in one of the oven racks. I usually place in the middle rack. 

Step  3: 

Check the oven after 15 min. The bitter gourd slices would have turned crispy. If you see any bitter gourd slice turning black/ Brown, You can remove them.

At the end of 20 -22 minutes, most of the bitter gourd slices would have turned brown. 
Switch off and take the tray off. Enjoy the bitter gourd fry hot.