Kovakkai (Ivy Gourd) Fry -Mom's Special

Kovakkai Fry is a diabetic friendly recipe which reduces Diabetes sugar levels remarkably. Itis known as Ivy Gourd in English. It is often prepared in Tamil homes as a lunch side dish recipe for rice. There are only a few things that taste good and have high medicinal values, and kovakkai is one such vegetable. This is a recipe which can be made easily on daily basis. 

And this is my mom’s version of cooking kovakkai. I like my poriyal to be dry which my mom always does it..So I have managed to cook without burning the sides. Kovakkai is used traditionally to control fever, asthma, bronchitis and jaundice. It also helps to regulate the blood sugar levels. Kovakkai is rich in Vitamin C, which helps to strengthen bones. 

Prep  time	cook time	Serves
10 mins	15 mins	3  persons

Recipe type:  Poriyal varieties

Cuisine:  Indian cuisine

Ingredients Kovakkai -2 cups sliced Onion -1 big Turmeric powder -1/2 tsp Chilli powder -1/2 tsp Sambar powder -1 tsp Mustard seeds -1 tsp Urad dal -1 tbsp. Hing –pinch Curry leaves  -1 sprig

Method 
1. Heat oil, add the mustard seeds and the urad dal, when the spluttering stops, add the asafetida, curry leaves and the chopped onions. Sauté the onions till they turn transparent, then add the kovakkai, turmeric powder and salt, cover and cook till tender. 

2. Remove the lid, add the sambar and chilli powder, mix, if needed add a little more oil and keep cooking on reduced heat till they shrink and start turning a little brown here and there. It goes well with both rice and rotis.

Notes
If you don't have sambar powder increase the chilli powder to 3/4th teaspoon and add 1 teaspoon of coriander powder with it.