Pavakka is the Malayalam word for Bitter melon or Bitter gourd. Kaipakka is another name of Bitter Gourd in Malayalam.
Pavakka is cooked in various ways in South of India. It is stir-fried with various spices and it is called Pavakka Olarthiyathu or cooked with browned grated coconut and various spices called Pavakka Theyal/Theeyal. Some housewives who are inventive enough also make them as Pavakka Achar/Achaar
Below is a picture of raw Pavakka which is available in Kerala all the time and the various dishes made from Pavakka from Kerala, a state in the south of India.
