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Kovakkai fry served in a beige ceramic bowl placed over a wooden board. Sliced kovakkai scattered around the bowl on the board
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5 from 1 vote

Kovakkai Fry

Kovakkai fry is a delicious South Indian style crispy stir fry made with ivy gourds. This underrated rustic vegetable curry is a delight in every bite and pairs well with rice or rotis.
Prep Time12 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course, Mains
Cuisine: South Indian, Tamil
Servings: 4
Calories: 155kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Frying Pan
  • 1 small cast iron skillet
  • 1 sieve
  • 1 Spatula

Ingredients

For roasting besan

  • 1/2 cup Besan Chickpea flour

For the curry

  • 1.5 tbsp cold pressed peanut oil
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp split white Urad dal
  • 1/8 tsp Asafetida Hing or Perungayam
  • 400 grams Chopped Kovakkai Ivy gourd in English
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1.5 tsp red chili powder red paprika
  • 1.5 tsp coriander powder ground coriander
  • 2 tbsp roasted besan

For garnish

  • 2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

Instructions

Prep work

  • Wash and pat dry the ivy gourds.
  • They have to be dry before you begin chopping them.
  • When dry, chop them into long fingers.
  • Each ivy gourd can be chopped into 4 to 6 such fingers.
  • Use a sharp paring knife to do this.
  • Sieve 1/2 cup of Besan to get rid of any lumps.
  • Heat a small pan, preferably, a cast iron skillet.
  • Add the sieved Besan to the pan and roast on low heat till fragrant and light brown.
  • When done, switch off heat and transfer to a bowl immediately.

Making South Indian Ivy Gourd Fry

  • Heat a pan with 1.5 tbsp oil.
  • Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and urad dal.
  • Wait for the mustard and cumin seeds to splutter.
  • When the mustard seeds have splutted and the dal begins to brown, add the asafetida.
  • Immediately tip in the chopped gourds along with salt.
  • Toss well.
  • Cook covered on medium heat for 5 minutes until the gourds have softened and become limp.
  • Now, add the spice powders ( red chili powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder).
  • Mix gently to make sure that the veggies are evenly coated with the spices.
  • Cook for 5 to 6 minutes on low heat.
  • Add 2 tbsp of the roasted Besan flour in a sprinkling motion to the pan.
  • Toss everything well to combine and continue to cook on low flame for about 7 to 8 minutes.
  • When the chopped gourds have become golden brown around the edges, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves.
  • Stir gently to combine.
  • Serve hot with rice and any Kuzhambu or Rasam of your choice.

Notes

  1. Chop the gourds as evenly as possible. This ensures even and quick cooking.
  2. For a crispier version, use 1 tbsp more oil and cook this fry in a cast iron pan on low heat.
  3. If you cannot source these ivy gourds fresh, look for it in the frozen section of your Indian grocery store. 
  4. For frozen Tendli, you do not have to thaw the vegetable. Just add it to the pan after you do the tempering and go ahead with the recipe. A side note- frozen Tendli will cook faster when compared to fresh ones since there is moisture. So keep an eye to prevent the curry from cooking to a mush.
  5. Roasted Besan is a fantastic way to add protein to this dish. While the step is optional, it is highly recommended. This also helps in crisping up the gourds evenly.
  6. Before roasting Besan (chickpea flour), sieve it well to get it rid of any lumps. Roast on low heat until fragrant and light brown. This takes around 4 to 5 minutes for about 1/2 cup of Besan. I always have a small batch of roasted Besan in my fridge to add to curries like this. You can store any leftovers in a Ziploc bag in the fridge. This keeps well for 1 month in the fridge.
  7. Do not add the chickpea flour without roasting it. Unroasted chickpea flour leaves a raw and slightly bitter aftertaste to the curry and makes it completely unpalatable.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 4mg
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