Kovakkai fry is a healthy side dish made by frying chopped tindora with spices and herbs. Kovakkai fry is eaten with rice meals and is a healthy option for diabetic people. Learn how to make Kovakkai Fry recipe with step by step pictures.
This Kovakkai Fry is a great side dish for rice and even chapati. Tindora / Ivy gourd / Kovakkai is rarely seen in my kitchen as both my husband and I are not big fans of it. This is one of the easy and quick curries that you can make in a jiffy…now let’s learn about this easy Kovakkai curry.
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About Tindora Fry
Kovakkai is also called Tindora or Dondakaya. This Kovakkai Fry is a healthy side dish that you can also serve with rice and sambar or rasam. I didn’t like this vegetable until I started making these fries. Be sure to try this easy Tindora Fry and enjoy!
Tindora or ivy gourd is an underrated vegetable as it is with us too. Initially we did not like it but later after knowing its health benefits I started buying it and now it has become a regular at home.

Kovakkai Fry Ingredients
- tindora – You can add thinly sliced kovakkai or cut it into wedges.
- Onion Onion is added for frying.
- spice powder – Red chilli powder and coriander powder are added.
- Masala Paste – The spice paste is made using onions, tomatoes and fennel seeds.
- Tadka – A basic tadka is made using oil, mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves.
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How to make Kovakkai Fry step by step
1. Wash the tindora thoroughly, cut off both ends. Then chop it as finely as possible as shown in the picture and keep aside. Grind onion, tomato and fennel to make a fine paste and keep aside. Heat oil in a pan – add the items listed under ‘To temper’, let it splutter, then add the onions and fry until light golden.

2. Add tomato-onion paste and masala powder and fry until the raw smell of tomatoes comes out. Then add the vegetables and fry and cook for 2 minutes until the spices mix well with the vegetables. Add salt as required.

3. Add water till it submerges, cover and cook. When it becomes soft, let it cook for 3 minutes until the curry becomes dry. Switch off.

Serve with hot rice and any kuzhambu of your choice.
Expert Tips
- You can add a pinch of garam masala to it for extra flavour.
- Instead of big onion, you can also add small onion.
- Cut it thinly so that it cooks evenly.
- Choose good green tindora, not ripe.
serving and storage
Kovakkai fry can be served with rice, roti etc. This curry keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, reheat and serve.

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📖 Recipe Card
Kovakkai Fry Recipe | Tindora Fry Recipe
Kovakkai Fry is a healthy side dish made by frying chopped tindora with spices and herbs. Kovakkai fry is eaten with rice meals and is a healthy option for diabetic people. Learn how to make Kovakkai Fry recipe with step by step pictures.
Material
- 2 cup Kovakkai / Tindora thinly sliced
- one and a half medium sized large onion
- 1 small spoon chilli powder
- 2 small spoon coriander powder
- salt to taste
grind into paste
- 1 big size Tomato
- one and a half big size large onion
- one and a half small spoon fennel seeds
to get angry
- 3 small spoon Oil
- 1 small spoon mustard seeds
- ¾ small spoon urad dal
- 1 twig Curry leaf
Instruction
-
Wash the tindora thoroughly, cut off both ends. Then chop it as finely as possible as shown in the picture and keep aside. Grind onion, tomato and fennel to make a fine paste and keep aside. Heat oil in a pan – add the items listed under ‘To temper’, let it splutter, then add the onions and fry until light golden.
-
Add tomato-onion paste along with spice powder and fry until the raw smell of tomatoes comes out. Then add the vegetables and fry and cook for 2 minutes until the spices mix well with the vegetables. Add salt as required.
-
Add water till it submerges and cook covered. When it becomes soft, let it cook for 3 minutes until the curry becomes dry. Switch off.
-
Serve with hot rice and any kuzhambu of your choice.
notes
- You can add a pinch of garam masala to it for extra flavor.
- Instead of big onion, you can also add small onion.
- Cut it thinly so that it cooks evenly.
- Choose good green tindora, not ripe.
nutrition Facts
Kovakkai Fry Recipe | Tindora Fry Recipe
Quantity per serving (75 grams)
calories 146
calories from fat 72
% daily value*
thick 8 g12%
saturated fat 1 g6%
Trans Fat 0.03 grams
polyunsaturated fat 2g
monounsaturated fat 5 grams
sodium 1964 mg85%
potassium 343mg10%
carbohydrates 14 g5%
fiber 3g13%
sugar 3 grams3%
protein 7 grams14%
Vitamin A 303IU6%
vitamin C 73 mg88%
Calcium 113 mg11%
Iron 5 mg28%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
