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Tondli Bhaat

Tondle or Tondli (Marathi) is Ivy Gourd in English, Tindora/Tendli in Hindi and it is a much sought-after seasonal vegetable in India, prepared in various ways across the country in combination with onions, tomatoes etc. Tondli Bhaat is a delicious Maharashtrian recipe, made with Tondli and rice; it used to be a must in the traditional Maharashtrian wedding spread. Things have changed with time and it is very rarely served in Maharashtrian weddings anymore. Tondli Bhaat is one of my favourite dishes, and here is the recipe for the same. One needs to use AmbaMohar rice variety for this recipe to get the desired taste.

Ingredients

Rice (AmbaMohar) – 1 cup

Tondli (Ivy Gourd) – 100 gm

Onion – 1 medium

Tomato – 1 small

Groundnuts – 1 tablespoon

Garlic Ginger Coriander paste – 2 teaspoons

Turmeric powder – ½ teaspoon

Garam Masala – ½ teaspoon

Kanda Lasun Masala – ½ teaspoon

Oil+Pure Ghee – 2 tablespoons

Cinnamon – 1 piece of 2 inch

Mustard seeds – ½ teaspoon

Bay leaf – 1 large

Curry leaves – 10-12 nos

Big cardamom – 2-3 nos

Black Pepper – 6-7 nos

Cloves – 4-5

Green Chillies – 1-2

Salt – as per taste

Water – 3 cups approximately

Grated coconut – 2 tablespoons

Chopped coriander leaves – 2 tablespoons

Cashewnuts – for garnish

Kishmish – for garnish

Method

Soak groundnuts in water for half hour. Wash all the vegetables, slice Tondli, onion and tomato lengthwise. Wash rice and set aside. Heat oil and ghee in a pan and cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, cloves, black pepper, curry leaves, mustard seeds and allow to splutter for a minute. Add sliced onions and fry till light brown. Add slit green chillies and sliced tondli and fry for another minute. Add washed rice, soaked groundnuts, ginger garlic coriander paste, turmeric powder, garam masala, kanda lasun masala, salt, sliced tomato and stir well for about 2-3 minutes. Add approximately 3 cups of water and bring to a boil, then cover and allow to cook for about 15 minutes. You can pressure cook also if you wish to. Add more water if required.

Serve Tondli Bhaat hot, topped with grated coconut, chopped coriander, fried cashews and kishmish along with pure ghee.

Note – Preparation time is approximately 45 minutes to one hour. This quantity serves about 4 people.