Kovakai Masala/ Tindora Masala/ Ivy Gourd stir fry

Ivy Gourd/ Kovakkai is a good source of Protein and Fiber. You can eat it raw and can make varities of dishes out of this vegetable. It looks like small cucumber. Tastes very good with all spices in it. So here comes the recipe.

You will need:

• 4 cups Kovakai/ Tindora
• 1 big onion
• 3 tbsp chopped tomato
• ½ tsp ginger garlic paste
• 3
• 1½ tbsp chicken masala powder or(1 tsp chilli powder, 1½ tsp coriander powder, 1 tsp garam masala powder, ½ tsp cumin powder)
• salt to taste
• ½ tsp pepper powder
• Lemon juice(optional)
  

For tempering:

• 3 tbsp oil
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp urad dal
• 2 dry red chilli
  
• few curry leaves
• cilantro(coriander leaves) for garnish
  

Procedure:

Step 1:

Wash the Tindora/ Kovakkai nicely in the running cold water. Trim of the ends and slice it horizontally into thin pieces.

Step 2:

Chop onion and tomato into fine pieces and keep it aside.

Step 3:

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, red chili and curry leaves to it. Allow it to splutter. Now add te chopped onion to it and saute it till it turns light golden brown color.

Step 4:

Now add the ginger garlic paste to it and saute it till it get rid off the raw smell. Add the masala powders along with chopped tomatoes to it.

Step 5:

Now add the chopped tindora pieces to it and coat well with all masala powders. Then cover with a lid and keep the flame on medium heat.

Step 6:

Allow the tindora pieces to cook in low flame for 10 mins stirring occasionally.Add salt and pepper powder to it. Finally squeeze the juice of ½ lemon on top of it and serve hot with roti, chapathi or with any rice as side dish. You can even garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Enjoy!!!!!