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crispy dondakaya fry in a red ceramic plate
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Dondakaya Fry- Kovakkai Fry Recipe

Kovakkai fry or dondakaya fry is a tasty, healthy and easy to make south Indian stir fry with ivy gourd or tindora. Ivy gourd is known as kovakkai in Tamil, dondakaya in Telugu, tindora in Hindi and it used in various recipes across India. This simply stir fry is an all time favorite at home and I make it very often. It tastes excellent when fried in low heat in cast iron pan and pairs very well as side dish with sambardalrasam or even curd rice. Vegan and gluten free.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: dondakaya fry, kovakkai fry
Servings: 3 servings
Calories: 96kcal
Author: Harini

Equipment

  • cast iron pan

Ingredients

  • 400 grams tindora
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon urad dal
  • 12 curry leaves
  • 2 teaspoons sambar powder or 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • Pick and rinse 400 grams firm green ivy gourds. Wipe off excess moisture and cut each dondakaya into half. You can also slice them into roundels. Set aside the sliced tindora.
    sliced tindora or kovakkai
  • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy pan, preferably cast iron. Add mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, chana dal, curry leaves and saute well.
    tempering for dondakaya fry
  • Add the sliced tindora or kovakkai to the tempering and mix well. Saute in high heat for 2-3 minutes continuously.
    sliced ivy gourd added to the tempering for dondakaya fry
  • Now add red chili powder or sambar powder, salt, turmeric powder and a pinch of sugar. Mix well and saute to combine the spice powders to the vegetables.
    spice powders and salt added to chopped ivy gourd
  • Now cook until kovakkai gets well cooked and roasted for 15-20 minutes in medium heat, keep the pan uncovered.
    making dondakaya vepudu
  • Serve kovakkai fry warm with rice, dal or sambar.
    easy kovakkai fry recipe

Nutrition

Serving: 3servings | Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 151IU | Vitamin C: 80mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg