Bharli Tondli is an excellent dish from the Maharashtrian cuisine made with Tondli or Tindora or Gherkins or Ivy Gourd popularly known as; stuffed with masala and cooked in spicy tangy thick gravy. Bharli Tondli means Stuffed Tindora, is a classic recipe having its own signature stuffing.
Bharli Tondli can be made in different versions stuffing your desired masala. In Andhra Pradesh, this dish is commonly known as Gutti Dondakaya masala kura having some wonderful south Indian spices and ingredients like grated coconut, jaggery, sesame seeds, curry leaves, tamarind juice and dash of cloves and cinnamon which blends so well creating an exotic stuffed curry that brings a medley of flavours, sweet flavour from jaggery, nutty flavour of the sesame seeds and tanginess from the tamarind.
Bharli Tondli can be eaten with hot rice which makes a warm and satisfying meal. Tindora or Bharli is a versatile vegetable which can be cooked in many ways. You could make different and yummy spicy recipes like stir fry Tindora fry, Tindora Chutney, Tindora and Channa masala, Dondakaya coconut fry etc.
This vegetable is almost available all year round. It’s a humble veggie and a regular diet in most kitchens creating some extremely wonderful recipes and transforming the Tindora into something very exotic and delicious. Bharli Tondli is slightly similar to the dondakaya masala kura but there is some variation in the addition of ingredients.
Maharashtrian generally use fresh coconut, roasted sesame seeds, roasted peanut powder, and goda masala (makes a tremendous change in the flavour). Sometimes either tamarind juice or kokum juice is added for that extra zest of tanginess.
Bharli Tondli is soft on bite with a medley of spices in a spicy tangy sauce that carries a comforting mouth feel bringing out the simplicity of Tindora. This makes a good side dish with roti or rice and dal. Bharli, tindora, or ivy gourd, is a tropical vegetable common in Indian cuisine. It has a taste and texture similar to squash and is often accented with powerful spices and herbs.
Tindora can be cooked as a subzi all by itself or mixed with other vegetables like potato. Tindora is also used in many sambar recipes. To prepare this mouth-watering, luscious spicy tangy Bharli Tondli, firstly heat 2 tbsp of oil in hot pan, add mustard seeds and when they start crackling, add curry leaves and chopped green chillies.
Reduce the flame and add hing, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, goda masala and garam masala (optional). When the masalas get slightly cooked, add the tindora pieces (cut both ends and make a small slit on one end – shown in video).
Add jaggery, salt to taste and mix well. Cover the pan with a lid and cook for few minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the lid and add 1 tbsp of ground coconut, roasted sesame seeds powder, roasted peanut powder and mix all the ingredients gently. Simmer the flame and cook for about 5 minutes until the gravy becomes thick.
Finally add chopped coriander, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Switch off the flame and serve. Recipe Tips Serving Ideas Boil the tindora in water for about 15 – 20 minutes until they are cooked and add to this dish. You can also add raw ones. Tastes excellently well with roti, chapatti, bhakris or rice!
Tindora is available in abundance right round the year. This helps us make naturally available foods as major part of our diet as they also are loaded with beneficial nutrients and vitamins. Eating healthy food is the best way to improve your quality of life.
Tindora is rich source of nutrients like dietary fiber, carbohydrates, vitam in B complex. Tindora is accredited as diabetic friendly vegetable and typically called as sugar killer. Consumption fo Tindora excellently helps diabetic patients to manage blood sugar levels.
Tindora consists of reserves of dietary fiber and hence greatly supports to prevent digestion disorders and acts as natural detoxifying agent and highly aids to clarify blood and liver and exhaustively cast off toxins and prevent from dreadful diseases. Do try this great stuffed tindora recipe and acquire its benefits. Watch the video on making of this dish:
https://www.vahrehvah.com/bharli-tondi-tindora-masala-maharashtrian-recipe
Enjoy Cooking!