Ivy gourd or scarlet gourd is known by many names in regional India. North Indian calls it Tindora or kundru in Hindi, tondli in Marathi while Odia calls it as toroda, kunduri. We call it kovai, kundri or kovakkai in Malayalam and kovakka in Tamil. Dondakaya in Telugu and Bimbi in Sanskrit. Ivy gourd fry is one of the easiest Indian curries.
You may stir fry kundru or fry it to make your kurkuri like chips, air fry it or have it pan fried. Crispy fried veggie like kovakkai fry, okra fry and potatoes can make any meal better. Whether it is deep fried or shallow fried in pan. However frying does add to increase oil in your meal. Cooking tindora recipe in air fryer makes it low oil.
Other Indian recipes that you can make in the air fryer include air fryer karela , air fryer anardana , air fryer bharwa baigan & air fryer nankhatai.
Learn to make this easy veggie. It is simple to cook. Slice it round or cut it in middle vertically. You can always buy it frozen ivy gourd if raw is not available fresh. Tendli cooks fast and most kids like it. You can pair it with rice or roti for a quick meal. I love having it as a side dish with dal fry and some steamed basmati rice.
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What veg can be cooked in air fryer?
There are many air fryer vegetable recipes that you can make. Surprised? It is not just for frozen fries onion rings and pizzas.
I love making air fryer brussel sprouts, air fryer potatoes, air fryer asparagus, air fryer corn, air fryer zucchini , air fryer yellow squash in it. air fryer red sweet potato, air fryer sweet potato ,air fryer whole cauliflower, air fryer mushrooms, air fryer beans, air fryer whole mushrooms ,air fryer broccoli are some easy air frying recipes. There is a huge range of recipes you can make.
Equipment
- air fryer
- mixing bowl
- oil spray
Ingredients
- Ivy gourd / tendli / tindora
- oil
- turmeric powder(optional)
- red chili powder / paprika
- Coriander powder
- garam masala / pav bhaji masala or any masala spice mix
- salt as per taste
refer to recipe card for details
Instructions
For fresh kundru / tendli /ivy gourd
Wash and dry the fresh ivy gourd.
Cut kundru down in small pieces.Toss it with 1 /1.5 tbsp. oil.
Preheat the air fryer for 5 mins at 170 C| 340 F and place the vegetable in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlap.
Air fry it for 10 mins at 170 C| 340 F.
In a mixing bowl, add the semi air fried tendli, spices and 1 tablespoon more oil.
Now, further air fry the kundru 8 mins at 170 C | 340 F.
Serve hot with rice or roti.
Variation
For frozen kundru
Earlier we could get only frozen kundru from Indian grocery store. Hence, we used this method to make kundru fry. Frozen ones has extra water so needs extra minutes to get crispy.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 mins at 170 C| 340 F and place the vegetable in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlap. Air fry it for 11 mins at 170 C| 340 F.
- In a mixing bowl, add the semi air fried tendli , spice powders and 1 tablespoon more oil.
- Now, further air fry the kundru for 8 mins at 170 C | 340 F.
- Serve hot with rice or roti.
Serve air fried tindora hot with rice or roti.
Substitution
You can use frozen kundru instead of fresh ones for air fry kundru. Cooking time of frozen tindora recipe, increases by 1 minute. It is better to use the frozen variety if fresh ones look fatter than slim versions.
Variation
You can also add some amchur or dry mango powder or a teaspoon lemon juice for more tangy air fryer roasted tendli recipe. dondakaya fry is one of the Telugu delicacies which is cooked with South Indian tempering, red chilli powder, curry leaves, roasted peanuts and fresh coconut. thondekai palya is another similar recipe where cashews and jaggery is added to tindore with coconut and south Indian tempering.
Another variation is gutti dondakaya recipe where dondakaya recipe is made with stuffing kura podi. The stuffing is made with a powder of roasted dry red chilies, dry coconut, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, sesame seeds and Bengal gram. Stuffed tindora just like stuffed eggplant or gutti vankaya kura is an awesome curry
You can air-fry leftover kundru for a quick snack or side. Put the veggie in the air fryer in one layer so they cook evenly. Have fun experimenting with different seasonings and spices to make fried kundru in the air fryer.
Storage
Store this gluten free cut ivy gourd curry for 2-4 days in refrigerator. Store leftover cooked okra in airtight container. It tastes great the next day too.
Top tip
Always reheat the left overs. You may even add a spoonful of garlic powder and paprika or cayenne pepper while reheating to make it extra spicy.
If you are looking to choose a safe air fryer , read our detailed article on choosing a safe air fryer.
FAQ
Red tendli means it is slightly ripe. You can still eat them. Air fried tindora will still taste the same. Generally the red ones are slightly fatter from my experience.
Yes tendli does. It looks and tastes similar and can be eaten raw too.
It is anti-inflammatory. Tendli aids in the prevention or treatment of diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and obesity.
Related recipes
air fryer fried kundru curry | air fried tendli masala | air fryer ivy gourd recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 500 gm ivy gourd / kundru / tendli
- 2-3 tbsp. oil
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder or pav bhaji masala or any masala mix
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder optional
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder or as per taste
- salt as per taste
Instructions
For fresh kundru / tendli /ivy gourd
- Wash and dry the fresh ivy gourd.Cut kundru down in small pieces.Toss it with 1 /1.5 tbsp. oil.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 mins at 170 C| 340 F and place the vegetable in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlap. Air fry it for 10 mins at 170 C| 340 F.
- In a mixing bowl, add the semi air fried tendli,spices and 1 tablespoon more oil.
- Now, further air fry the kundru 8 mins at 170 C | 340 F.
For frozen kundru
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 mins at 170 C| 340 F and place the vegetable in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlap. Air fry it for 11 mins at 170 C| 340 F.
- In a mixing bowl, add the semi air fried tendli,spices and 1 tablespoon more oil.
- Now, further air fry the kundru for 8 mins at 170 C | 340 F.
- Serve hot with rice or roti.
Notes
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Conclusion
All in all, air-fried tindora is the easiest and healthiest way to get crunchy ivy gourd. This is a healthier version of the classic deep-fried kundru and its super easy to make at home. Try this easy ivy gourd recipe and savor the crunchiest air fryer fried kundru as a delightful and healthy snack or great side dish.
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