Tindora/Kovakkaai is a good source of vitamins and minerals. My Mom had knee pain and when doctors suggested taking tindora frequently then only I realized its health benefits, such a natural pain reducing vegetable it is. Last month the whole family caught up with cold and flu, that time I prepared these very comforting pepper rasam and tindora fry. To minimize oil usage I steamed tindora for couple of minutes and it reduced the cooking process too but it’s similar to restaurant taste. I served those with brown rice, a very healthy platter indeed…
For Rasam
Gooseberry size Tamarind
Tomato – 1/4 from small size
Pepper – 1/2 Tbsp
Jeera/Cumin – 1/2 Tbsp
Red/Green Chili – 1 Number
Garlic – 5 Numbers
Turmeric Powder – 1/4tsp
Curry n Coriander Leaves – Few
Hing – A Pinch
Water n Salt – As Needed
Method
- Soak tamarind in hot water and extract the pulp (Pic 3).
- Dry roast the Cumin, Pepper(Pic 1) and powder it with salt (Pic 2).
- Crush the garlic in Mortar/Pestle, blender/food processor or like i did (Pic 4)
- Heat oil in a wide pan, splutter mustard seeds.
- Add hing, crushed garlic and curry leaves, turmeric, powdered cumin/pepper and chili (Pic 5).
- Saute well and finally add the Tamarind/tomato extract.
- Add necessary water, check salt.
- When starts frothing garnish with coriander and remove from heat (Pic 6).
For Tindora/Kovakai Fry
Tindora – 1 lb
Mustard/Chana Dhal, Urad Dhal – To temper
Curry Leaves – Few
Turmeric Powder – Pinch
Sambar Powder – 2tsp (Replace with Red Chili + Garam Masala Powder)
Oil n Salt
Method
- Wash and slice the tindora lengthwise (Pic 1).
- Steam the sliced veg in idli pan/steamer for 5-7mins or till it turns tender (Pic 2).
- Heat Oil, temper with mustard and dhals.
- Add curry leaves, masala powder n salt
- Finally add steamed tindora and saute well in low flame for couple of mins (Pic 3).
- When masala incorporates well with veg then put off the stove.
- Serve with Hot Rice, Sambar/Rasam n Papad.
Flavorful and healthy rasam… Loved the fry too
Tempting rasam and yummy tindora fry…loved both the dish.
love all type of rasam…looks so spicy and tangy
Woow tempting rasam and kovakI fry
Light & healthy meals…..
yummy platter
inviting tindora fry,great combo with rasam:)
its superb fry akka… today our side dish was this one..
Delicious combination.. Loved it
i love this veggie along with the combo of potato dear..
Rasam with any roast goes to me favourite dish, pepper rasam and tindora fry sounds an awesome pair.
Delicious combo of recipes love it. Sangeetha.
Healthy rasam and stir fry. By steaming we can't loose nutrients.
Looks fab ….so yum and beautiful
I luv the tindora so tempting the rasam combi looks.
Tindora is my favorite vegetable. love it.
The clicks are very inviting, the tindora fry is my favourite!
delicious and tempting, nice combo..
this is so easy – my husband can thrive on these kovakkas i swear! am no big fan………this easy version will surely make my life easy 🙂 thanks dear !
Sangeetha, In some restaurant recipe, I have seen strips of besan pakora in the kovakka; rather, a light drizzling of chickpea flour while the kovakka is fried. Seen one friend do that to replicate the dish.
Perfect combination for the lunch here!
Thanks a ton for ur Pakora tips Shri…Tindora fry has lot of versions n this version we usually get in our local restaurant without any flour added and fried in stove top for long time. I gave healthy twist by steaming it, also this method reduces the stir fry time. But the final outcome/taste is similar to our local restaurant one.