Healthy Ivy Gourd Thoran with Prawn- Tindora/Kovakka Chemmeen Thoran

Chemmeen Kovakka Thoran

Kovakka/ivy gourd thoran with prawns is a simple and quick side dish for rice. Thoran is a kind of vegetable stir fry and is part of the everyday meal in Kerala. Ivy gourd is a healthy vegetable and looks like cute small cucumbers. It is juicy and crunchy and goes well with almost any flavor. I love cooking this vegetable with prawns or dried prawns. It is an old habit of mine, adding prawns to charu curries and stir fry. Prawns and spiced coconut elevates the flavor profile and taste of this vegetable. Crunchy delicious ivy gourd with prawns and the sweet crunch of freshly grated coconut, cumin, and garlic make this a seafood delicacy that you will never get tired of eating.

Ivy gourd is popular in India and is known as tindora,tendli, dondakaya, kovakkai, etc. It grows on vines and is regularly used in cooking. Tindora is available in most Indian and Asian grocery stores. It has great health benefits. It is rich in vitamins and antioxidants and is considered to blood sugar regulator. Today's recipe is a traditional Kerala-style quick stir-fry with the flavor of coconut. Thoran is usually a quick stir fry with vegetables, freshly grated coconut, and spices. Use coconut oil and curry leaves for authentic Kerala touch. This simple and easy side dish is best when paired with steamed rice or chapati. But even without prawns, this thoran is delicious. Try this recipe. It is delicious.

 

 

Healthy Ivy Gourd Thoran with Prawn- Tindora/Kovakka Chemmeen Thoran Recipe

Ingredients
Kovakka/Tindora chopped- 3 cup
Prawns- 1/2 lb
Shallots-4-5
Coconut grated-1/2 cup
Turmeric powder- 1/3 tsp
Chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam masala- 1/3 tsp (optional)
Garlic - 3 -4 cloves
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves- a few


Peel and devein prawns and keep aside. Wash tindora and let the excess water drain out. Cut the two edges(top and bottom part) and discard them. Cut the ivy gourd vertically into half and then make thin slices out of it and set aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add curry leaves and sliced onion and saute till they change color. Add prawns and saute till it turns pale. Next, add the tindora/kovakka, salt and sprinkle a few drops of water. Don't need to add too much water, it will get cooked in its own water. Cover and cook till the veggies are soft and no water remaining.
Use a mixer to make a coarse mixture of coconut, turmeric powder, chilly powder, and garlic. Add this to the cooked veggie and prawns and stir fry in a medium for about a minute. Sprinkle garam masala and add a few fresh curry leaves. Continue to cook on low flame till all the water evaporates. Finally, saute in medium-high flame for one more minute and switch off the flame. Serve as a side dish with rice.

You might also like,

Kovakka/Tindora Fry
Uppumanga Kovakka Curry
Mushroom Egg Thoran
Koorka Mezhukkupuratti (Chinese Potato Stir Fry)
Kozhi thoran/ Trivandrum Style Chicken Thoran

Try this,
Hope you will all enjoy.