My love for Tindora or Ivy Gourd grows more with each passing day. Not only I am a great fan of its crunchy texture and taste, I have many fond memories of my childhood days spent with my sister under the shade of its beautiful green vines where we shared our joys, sorrow and many secrets. Whenever I cook with these little green gems, I fondly remember the times we spent lying under the shades of these vines beautifully spread across guava tree in my parents’ vegetable garden.
Cooking with Ivy Gourds is always fun as its one of versatile vegetables that compliments many aromatic spices used in cooking it. And yet it manages to retain its crunch and taste. Ivy gourd is a very popular vegetable in south India and also in some parts of western Indian states. From simple stir fries to delicious and complex gravy based dishes, there are many mouth watering recipes for cooking these little gems. The recipe I am sharing with today is really simple and takes just few minutes of your time. It’s all to do with quick preparation as the cooking is done in an oven.
The quote ‘Less is more’ is applied to this recipe of spicy Tindora or Ivy Gourd Roast. Just handful of freshly ground aromatic Indian spices and the end product is one of the best tasting side dish. Thin strips of ivy gourds are generously dusted with few selected spices and then roasted in oven. Some twenty or little more minutes later you have this delicious bowl of crunchy and spicy Tindora or Ivy Gourd Roast that jazzes up any boring meal. Best way to serve it is with plain rice, dollop of Ghee and a bowl of hot Rasam (South Indian tomato soup) or Dal (creamy lentil soup). Get little creative and serve it as a stuffing for sandwich or warps with a spoonful of sour cream and some salad leaves. 
Spicy Tindora – Ivy Gourd Roast
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Just handful of freshly ground aromatic Indian spices and the end product is one of the best tasting side dish.
Ingredients
- 20-24 Ivy Gourds/Tindora
- 1 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 tsp Rasam Powder (according to taste)
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1/2 tsp Amchur/Dry Mango Powder (optional)
- A pinch of Hing/Asafoetida
- 1 tbsp Oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven at 180 deg C/350 deg F.
- Trim the ends of ivy gourds and slit it in the middle. Cut each halves into 2-3 thin stripes and transfer it into large mixing bowl.
- Add all the spice powders along with oil and salt to taste to ivy gourd pieces and mix them well. Make sure every single piece of ivy gourd is coated well with spice mixture.
- Line the baking sheet/tray with aluminium foil and arrange the ivy gourds in single layer. Place the baking sheet/tray in mid rack and set the timer for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, take out the tray and gently turn over the ivy gourds and bake them again for 7-10 minutes.
- Serve them warm with plain rice and Rasam (South Indian tomato soup) or any Indian flat breads and Dal (creamy lentil dish).
Notes
- Ready to use Rasam powder is available at any Indian grocery shops.
- If unavailable, you can substitue it with Garam Masala.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: South Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 60
Frequently Asked Questions
Why cut the ivy gourds into thin strips rather than keeping them whole or halved?
Thin strips mean every piece gets maximum contact with the spice coating and roasts evenly in the oven. Whole or thick pieces stay soft and steamy inside. I trim the ends, split each gourd in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 2 or 3 strips before tossing with the spices.
What is rasam powder and where do I find it?
Rasam powder is a South Indian spice blend built on red chili, coriander, black pepper, fenugreek, cumin, mustard seed, and asafoetida — it gives the roast its signature heat and depth. Ready-to-use rasam powder is available at any Indian grocery shop. If you cannot find it, substitute garam masala, though the flavor profile will be different.
Why flip the tindora halfway through roasting?
At 180 C / 350 F the underside browns and crisps in about 15 minutes, but the top side stays pale. Flipping them at the 15-minute mark and roasting another 7 to 10 minutes gives you that even crunch on all sides that makes this dish worth making.
Thanks for sharing this recipe……
What lovely childhood memories! I would love to try these. Simple, roasted and spicy is a favorite combination of mine.
Thank you, Laura. Do give it a try when you find some fresh ivy gourds. it makes a lovely side dish. i made second batch yesterday and I just had it in a warp with few lettuce, juicy tomato slices and some sour cream. YUM!
this is such an interesting dish for me
Thank you, Tamara!