Kovakkai Fry

Kovakkai fry / Thondekai fry / Dondakaya fry/vepudu 

In English: Ivy Gourd/Coccinia grandis

How to select Ivy gourd from Market:

Go for long and firm ones. Soft ivy gourd are ripped ones, seeds will be red inside. 

Health benefits:

• Rich in B Vitamins helps smooth functioning of brain and nervous system.
• Has anti-oxidants including high amount of Vitamin C and beta-carotene which prevents cancer. 
• It is a very good food for diabetic person, it reduces blood sugar level. 

Kovakkai fry is my son's favourite sidedish.  I tried different recipes with kovakkai but he likes this. It goes well with curd rice. You can add onion, grated coconut if required. My son keeps separating visible onions in all the dishes, onions omitted😀  in this recipe.  

Ingredients:

• Kovakkai - 500gms
• onion - 1 (optional)
• Grated coconut (optional)
• Red chilli powder - 1 1/2 tsp 
• coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
• turmeric - 1 pinch

Method:

1. Chop the Kovakkai in round shape. 

2. In a bowl add sliced kovakkai , Red chilli powder, Turmeric and salt. 

3. Mix properly till chilli powder, salt, turmeric powder mixes well with kovakkai.

4. Heat the oil in the pan or kadai. Add the kovakkai mix. 

(you can add mustard, urad dhal, chopped onions, red chilli here, before adding the kovakkai mix)

Don't add water, it will make kovakkai mushy.  

5. Cook for 4-5 mins with the lid in medium flame.

6. Remove the lid, keep flipping the mixture for every 5 mins. More you fry, you get crispy kovakkai. 

Kovakkai fry is ready 👍

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