Tondekai Palya

Tondekai / Ivy Gourd is loved by most of us. Tondekai as we call in Kannada Langurage.  I have tried some dry palya /dry curry and it taste Yummy.

Tondekai/tindli, Tindoora, Kowai por Kowekai as it is called in different Indian Language.

I have used Tondekai, rasam powder, jaggery and dry ground coconut mixture.

Let us see some benefits of Tondekai/Tendli/Kowekai in our diet.
Ivy gourd /Tondekai helps to regulate the blood sugar level. it helps in preventing obesity because it is rich in anti obesity properties. It helps in improving digestion. It cures diseases because it is rich in anti oxidant properties. It protects against allergies. Tondekai helps to cure infections. It helps in increasing metabolism in our body. It prevents kidney stones.it helps in curing anemia since it is filled with iron. It is rich in minerals and vitamins. It has minerals like iron,potassium and calcium, It is rich in vitamin B 1, and B 2.
The fruits of Ivy gourd are used as traditional medicine in Ayurveda for several diseases and infections. The leaves are used for treating fever, bronchitis, jaundice and osteoarthritis.
No Onion - No Garlic  Tondekai Palya/Dry Curry.
It is simple, quick, yummy and healthy.

You must use tender Tondekai . 

Ingredients :

Tondekai : 1250 Gr.
To Add :
Rasam Powder : 2 Teaspoons full.
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Green chilly : 1
Salt : As required
Coriander Leaves : 2 Tbs
Jaggery : 1 Teaspoon
Seasoning :
Coconut Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6

Method :

1. Wash and cut tondekai and keep it aside.

2. Grate cocontu and dry grind it. Keep it aside.
3. Wash green chilly and slit, wash curry leaves, coriander leaves and cut into small pieces.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil, mustard seeds and urid dal. Let mustard seeds splutter.
5. Add curry leaves and slit green chilly.
6. Add cut tondekai and mix it nicely. Add little water and cook till it turns soft.

7. Tondekai should be cooked till soft. Then you add salt and little turmeric powder.
8. Add rasam powder, jaggery and mix all the ingredients nicely.

9. Add dry ground coconut and mix it well. Let it cook on low flame for 2 minutes.
10. Mix it and check all the moisture is disappear. Shift the Tondekai Palya to a serving dish.

11. Add cut coriander leaves.

12. Serve as one of the side dish  and enjoy.

Note :

You can cook tondekai in pressure cooker for 2  minutes and then add it to seasoning done.
Use of Onions and garlic is optional.
Use of jaggery is optional.
Tondekai has little bit of tangy taste. So no need to use any lemon, tamarind, or any other tangy extract.
Use of coconut is optional. It adds to the taste.
I have used MTR Rasam Powder.  Use of any brand of spice is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.

Serves : 3 to 4

Tonde Kai Palya (Ivy Gourd Dry Curry)

Tonde Kai Palya/Ivy Gourd Dry curry is a side dish. Palya (Dry curry) and Tonde kai means Ivy gourd,
Ivy Gourd is known in different names like, baby watermelon, little gourd, tindora, Tonde Kayi (Kannada) Kovakka (Tamil), Dondakaya(Telugu), Tendli or Tondli (Marati), Kunduri (Oriya)  and kundri/Kovai or Kovakkai in Malayalam.
In Dakshina Kannada or South Karnataka (Udupi, Mangalore etc ), we do prepare this Tondekai Palya on a Yugadi Festival Day. (Soura Yugadi). Fresh cashews are added to this curry. One mor dish Kadale - Tonde kai gasi  (Ivy Gourd - Channa thick curry) is also very famous in South Canara. (South Part of Karnataka).

We can have this curry with so many main dishes like, Plain or masala rice, chapati, poori, rotti , naan, roti and even dosas. In Maharastra, Rice Palav prepared using this vegetable is very famous.
Lets see some benefits of eating Ivy gourd in our diet.
Ivy gourd helps to control diabetes. It contain Vitamin A (beta carotene). Ivy gourd has an excellent source of protein and fiber. It helps to treat people who supper from bowel movements. Ivy gourd has good source of vitamins which is essential for human body. It is a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B 1 and B 2 and Vitamin A. It has some amount of anti oxidant properties.
Tonde Kai Palya has no onions or garlic in it. We can prepare them on any day. Be it a festival or fasting or a normal day or party time.This Palya goes well with all items. It is a simple and easy curry that anyone can prepare it very quickly.
Lets see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Tonde Kai/ Ivy gourd : 1/4 Kg
Red chilly : 2 to 3
Turmeric Powder : a pinch
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Oil : 1 Tablespoon
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoons
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Salt : As required
Ondelaga Leaves  ( Gotu Kola leaves) : 1 Handful

Method :

1. Wash and cut tonde kai in to pieces, (according to your wish). Put it in a bowl of water.
2. Wash and cut ondelaga /Gotu Kola leaves into thin and keep it aside.

3. Grate coconut and keep it aside. Cut red chilly in to pieces and keep it aside.
4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Put oil, mustard seeds and urid dal. Add red chilly pieces
5. Let mustard seeds splutter. Add curry leaves.

6.  Remove all the tondekai pieces from water and add it to the seasoning.
7. Mix it well and fry for 2 minutes. Add water (1/2 cup) and cook till they turn soft.
8. Let all the moisture disappear. Add turmeric powder and salt. Mix it well and cook on low flame.
9. Now add grated coconut the dry curry. Add cut Ondelaga leaves and mix it well.

10. Shift the cooked Tonde Kai dry curry to a serving bowl. Palya is ready to serve.

Note :

Cut ondelaga leaves into thin. Using ondelaga (one leaf in each branch ) is optional. You can use coriander leaves. Eating ondelaga leaves helps in circulating and purifying blood in our body. You can also cook tonde kai first and then season it. Cook till the vegetable is soft. Adding onions and
garlic is optional.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 

Tondekao - Southe Kai Majjege Huli.

Tonde kai Majjige huli/Curd curry goes well with plain or any masala rice and rotis of different varieties, with dosas and rotti.

Tonde Kai/Ivy Gourd is  also called as tindly  or Thindora, and in Tamil they call as Kovekai . Ivy gourd in English. Normally its said that  this perticular vegetable is good for diabetics and helps to regulates the blood sugar.

Tondekai Southekai Majjege huli is a simple and an easy dish.
No Garlic or No Onion is added in this curry. 

Things Needed : 

Tonde Kai: 2 cups.

Southe kai ( Cucumber ) : 1 Cup.

Green Chillies: 3 to 4.

Coconut : 1/2 cup.

Mustard Seeds : 1/4 Tea spoon.

Jeera: 1/4 Tea spoon.

Salt : to taste.
Turmeric : Pinch.

Curd .( Yogurt) : 1 Cup.

Curry Leaves : 6 to 8.

Coriander Leaves: 2 Table spoons.

Ingh : a pinch.

Ghee or Coconut Oil: 1 Tea spoon.

Method : 

1.  Wash and cut Mangalore southe kai/ Bannada southe and put it in a bowl of water.3. 

2. Wash and cut tonde kai/ivy gourd and boil till they are soft. ( 8 to 10 minutes).  Keep it aside.
3. Grate coconut and grind it with little water.
4. Keep a big pan on the fire . Add cooked vegetables. Add slit green chilly. Add turmeric.
5. Mix it well and let it boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add ground coconut and mix it well.
6. Let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Put off the fire.
7. Add mustard seasoning and shift the curry to a serving dish. Add coriander leaves.

8. Add a bowl of curd and mix it well and serve with the main dish you have prepared.

Note:

The curry should be thick . Do not add much water while grinding or while cooking. Adding curd when the curry is cool is to avoid the curd to be curdled. ( curd becomes some what spoiled milk and won't look good and tasty). Adding curd at the end will keep the curry without turning savoury. 

Serves : 3 to 4 
Time : 20 Minutes.