Monday, June 7, 2010

Quick Tondekai Palya/ Ivy gourd instant subzi

Aren’t there days when there are vegetables in the fridge waiting to get cooked, and even you feel like eating a vegetable based meal, but do not have the time to pick, clean, chop, cook etc, etc? Well, especially if you’re working and having a long and hectic week, then this is a common scenario. And those little vegetables, though tasty take a longer time with chopping. And if you’re not making anything worthy, then the guilt starts pricking too!

Vegetable like tindora take a great deal of time since it takes a lot of time to chop them into fine pieces as they like at home; and the hands get sticky too while chopping this vegetable, which makes the preparation part clumsy. Mom recently told me this simple recipe with ivy gourd / tindora / tondekai, that requires no chopping into fine pieces. It’s a very quick preparation to, unlike the usual palya... That made it my instant choice to prepare with the ivy gourd lying in the fridge....
Quick Tondekai Palya

Preparation time : 5 min
Cooking time : 10 min
Serves : 4

Ingredients:
Ivy gourd - ~250 gms
Coconut - 2 Tbsp, grated
Dry red chilies - 5-6, depending on taste
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Cooking oil - 1 Tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Asafetida - a pinch, powdered
Turmeric - a pinch
Salt - ½ tsp or as per taste

Method:
• Wash and chop ivy gourd into halves
• Meanwhile, coarsely grind coconut, red chilies and asafetida without adding any water
• Add the ivy gourd and pulse the mixie for a couple of times. Ensure that the mixture is coarse and not ground smooth
• In a thick bottomed pan, heat oil, add mustard, allow to splutter
• Add curry leaves and turmeric
• Add the ground mixture and salt and mix well
• Sauté well for about 5-6 minutes till the raw smell is gone
• Serve it with rice or as a side dish for chapathis/rotis

Tips n Tricks:
• Ensure that the mixture is coarse and not ground smooth

Variations:
• The same can be made with green chilies too

2 comments:

  1. i do a simple stir fry using ivygourd..but this is surely a good option to try..thanks for sharing this one, lovely clicks as well sums

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is fantastic and quick!! Love tondekayi,my family doesn't:-((, so good recipe to make some only for myself and quickly!!

    ReplyDelete

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