Karela juice, also called bitter gourd juice or bitter melon juice, is sometimes difficult to find in stores so you might try growing your own gourds and making the juice yourself. When consumed in moderation, karela juice is used as a folk remedy to help a with several medical conditions.
Karela juice is also believed to help control blood sugar levels in diabetics, but more research is needed in this area, according to the University of Maryland. According to a December 2016 article published by Marumegh, bitter gourd also provides several important vitamins and minerals.
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A juicing machine might be the obvious choice for extracting karela juice, but you can make the juice with your household blender instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars for a quality juicer.
Step 1: Cut and Rinse
Cut the skin from the bitter gourd with a small kitchen paring knife. Wash the gourd under cold running water and place it on a cutting board.
Step 2: Remove the Seeds
Slice the bitter gourd down the center with a kitchen knife. Scoop out the seeds and white flesh from the bitter gourd with a spoon, leaving the green outer section.
Step 3: Cube the Flesh
Cut the outer green flesh of the bitter gourd into small- to medium-size cubes. Use a sharp knife.
Step 4: Reduce the Bitterness
Scoop the bitter gourd cubes into a bowl and cover them with water. If you want to off-set the bitterness, you can soak the cubes for about 30 minutes in a bowl of water with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt or juice from half a lemon.
Step 5: Blend Your Ingredients
Add the bitter gourd to a blender. Pour water, apple juice or lemon juice into the juicer or blender to lessen the bitter taste, making the karela juice more palatable.
Adding honey, black pepper and ginger also helps with making the karela juice tastier. Blend the ingredients until the juice is smooth and uniform.
Step 6: Strain Karela Juice
Place a wire mesh strainer or several layers of cheesecloth over a bowl or glass. Pour the juice through the strainer to remove any solid pieces of the bitter gourd.
Press the solids against the wire mesh with the back of a spoon or squeeze the cheesecloth to extract as much juice as possible.
Step 7: Chill and Serve
Place the karela juice in the refrigerator to chill between 1 to 2 hours. Pour the karela juice into a serving glass. Top the juice with a sprinkle of black pepper or chaat masala and serve.
Read more: The Benefits of a Three-Day Juice Fast
Follow These Tips
It is generally recommended that you drink karela juice in the mornings on an empty stomach for full beneficial results. Sweeten karela juice with honey, but avoid other sugars which can alter the taste and health benefits.
If you have a juicing machine, you can simply process the saltwater-soaked cubes through the juicer instead of blending and straining the cubes.
Consume your juice within one to two days and refrigerate your leftovers immediately to reduce risk of harmful bacterial growth, as advised by Michigan State University.
Things You'll Need
Bitter gourd
Paring knife
Spoon
Bowl
Salt or lemon juice
Colander
Blender
Apple juice
Honey
Black pepper
Ginger
Juicer
Wire mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Glass
Chaat masala