• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • Food Photography
  • Subscribe

MySpicyKitchen

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Food Photography
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Curries & Stir Fries

    Published: Dec 19, 2018 · Modified: Aug 24, 2020 by Usha Rao

    Sauteed Ivy Gourd ~ Dondakaya Koora

    Jump to Recipe

    Sauteed ivy gourd - dondakaya koora is an easy, everyday Indian side dish. It pairs well with rice or any Indian flatbreads.

    Dondakaya Koora in a bowl

    What is Ivy Gourd?

    It is a tropical vegetable very common in India and belongs to cucumber family. It is a perennial vine plant, grows very fast and the vegetable is 2-3" long. Dondakaya is a versatile vegetable cooked in many forms; chutney, dondakaya ava pachadi (pickle), dondakaya pergu pachadi (ivy gourd in yogurt dressing), saute, stuffed tindora subzi and even in rice (tendli bhaat).

    Dondakaya Koora

    The simplest way to cook the vegetable is to saute it with some cumin, onion, chilies and garlic. This is the basic version of the vegetable saute however, play ground with the basic Indian spices for a different flavor. It is an everyday, vegan, gluten free side dish with 15 minutes cooking time.

    Seasoning

    Though I use only green chilies and/or chili powder to season the subzi, addition of your favorite curry powder, Indian spice blend or sambar powder enhances the taste. A variation to this basic subzi is addition of gram flour; dondakaya barada.

    How to cut the vegetable?

    Wash the vegetable, trim the edges and cut it into a desired shape and size. I usually slice it into circles. You can also cut it into long sticks, 4 - 6 sticks depending on the thickness of the gourd. Regardless of how it is cut, it is a delicious stir fry.

    Theme of the Week

    Theme for this week is meal time dishes. Dondakaya koora is a quick side dish for weekdays and with some prep work ahead of time, subzi is ready in 15 minutes.

    Simple Everyday Telugu Meal

    In the below thali, everyday meal consists of:
    Sliced cucumber
    Chikkudukaya Koora - Sauteed Indian broad beans
    Dondakaya Koora
    Cranberry Dal - Toor dal cooked with cranberries
    Tomato Sorakaya Shorva - Tomato bottle gourd stew
    Yogurt

    Tindora Subzi ~ Dondakaya Koora Recipe

    📖 Recipe

    Dondakaya Koora in a bowl

    Sauteed Ivy Gourd ~ Dondakaya Koora

    Dondakaya koora is an easy everyday South Indian side dish for rice and roti. Ivy gourd is sauteed in basic Indian spices to prepare this delicious side dish.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Indian, South Indian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories:

    Ingredients

    • ½ kg or little over a pound Dondakaya ~ Ivy Gourd ~ Tindora
    • 1 ½ tablespoon Oil
    • ½ teaspoon Cumin
    • 4 Curry Leaves torn into small pieces
    • 3 Green Chilies chopped
    • ½ small Onion chopped
    • 3 big Cloves of Garlic crushed
    • ¾ teaspoon Chili Powder adjust to taste
    • ¾ teaspoon Salt adjust to taste
    • ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
    • Cilantro for garnish

    Instructions

    • Wash ivy gourd, trim the edges and slice to ¼” circles.
    • Heat oil in a pan, add cumin, curry leaves, green chilies and let cumin change color.
    • Add onion and saute until soft.
    • Throw in garlic and let fry for few seconds until light brown.
    • Add chili powder, salt, turmeric and mix well.
    • Reduce the flame, add ivy gourd and mix until seasoning coats all the pieces. Increase the flame and stir fry for a minute or two.
    • Cover and cook on medium to medium low flame for 5 - 7 minutes until ivy gourd is soft. Stir once or twice in between, for even cooking.
    • Uncover and continue to cook for few minutes or until ivy gourd is fried. I did not fry it for too long as I wanted crunchy pieces of ivy gourd.
    • Taste and adjust salt and chili powder to taste.
    • Turn off the heat, transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with cilantro and serve with either rice or roti.

    Notes

    • I used a stainless steel pan. When using a nonstick pan, can cut back a little on oil.
    • I prefer crunchy ivy gourd and did not fry it for too long. When cooking for a week and planning on storing it for up to 5-6 days, highly recommend sauteing a little longer.
    • Spice level is mild and would recommend seasoning it well when storing for 5-6 days in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0g | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg
    Tried this recipe?Share a photo! Mention @usha_myspicykitchen or tag #Usha_MySpicyKitchen!

    Like the recipe, Pin It.

    More Curries & Stir Fries

    • Bowl of bell pepper gram flour fry.
      Capsicum Besan Recipe
    • A bowl of beerakaya kandi kaya kura.
      Beerakaya Kandi Kaya Kura
    • Bowl of karela fry.
      Kakarakaya Kura ~ Bitter Gourd Fry
    • Bowl of tomato shorva.
      Tamata Shorva

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Priya Srinivasan says

      February 16, 2019 at 2:31 pm

      We love tindora fry, the only hassle is to cut them, apart from that it is our favorite veggie!!
      you have made them so well usha

      Reply
    2. Chef Mireille says

      January 23, 2019 at 11:19 pm

      5 stars
      I've only had tindora once before when I made it in a rice dish and I really liked it - You are reminding me how much I liked it and I really need to pick some up next time I go to Indian market to try this saute

      Reply
    3. https://www.spicingyourlife.in says

      January 21, 2019 at 4:56 am

      The pictures are so clear and just looking at those makes me want to grab the whole plate Usha.The spread looks so inviting..this simple stir fry is an excellent way to enjoy this vegetable.

      Reply
    4. Pavani says

      January 12, 2019 at 10:00 am

      5 stars
      That is a delicious dondakaya kura Usha. Slightly different from what I usually make. Will try your version next time I cook dondakaya. My daughter loves it too.

      Reply
    5. Gayathri Kumar says

      December 24, 2018 at 9:39 pm

      That whole thali looks so delicious Usha. I don't cook frequently with ivy gourd, but seeing this easy breezy recipe, I am tempted.

      Reply
    6. Priya Suresh says

      December 23, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Simple yet a delicious side dish to have some rice. Love these sort of simple and comforting meal.

      Reply
    7. Swati says

      December 20, 2018 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      A simple no fuss healthy dish.. i will love to have it along with my Dal-Chawal!!

      Reply
    8. Suma Gandlur says

      December 19, 2018 at 10:33 pm

      I am the opposite and fry it well until tindora browns. 🙂 That is one simple yet homely meal.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I am Usha! Welcome to my space. I am the content creator and photographer here. I love cooking and all the recipes on the site are tried and tested in my kitchen.

    More about me →


    Holiday Recipes

    • Fresh cranberry Christmas cake is a tangy & sweet cake
      Fresh Cranberry Christmas Cake
    • Loaf of non alcoholic low calorie classic fruit cake
      Low Calorie, Non Alcoholic Fruit Cake
    • plate of masi samoa.
      Masi Samoa, Coconut Shortbread Cookies
    • Norwegian Rice Porridge, Norwegian Food, Norwegian Cuisine, Rice Porridge, Rice Pudding, Norwegian Rice Pudding, Food of the World,
      Norwegian Rice Porridge for Food of the World
    • Collard Greens, Pepperoni, Food & Wine, Cooking from Cookbook Challenge, CCChallenge, Side Dish, Thanksgiving Recipes,
      Sauteed Collard Greens with Pepperoni
    • Thanksgiving Side Dishes, Side Dish, Swiss Chard, Piccata, Piccata Swiss Chard, Cooking form cookbook Challenge, CCChallenge, Food & Wine,
      Piccata Swiss Chard

    Popular

    • Sq image of a platter of veg canapes.
      Bread Canapes Recipe
    • Shrimp noodle soup in a bowl
      Easy Shrimp Noodle Soup Chinese Style
    • Top down view of chicken clear soup.
      Chicken Clear Soup Recipe, Indian Style
    • Omani Food, Omani Cuisine, Roasted Meat, Blogging Marathon, Around the world in 30 days with ABC cooking,
      Omani Shuwa ~ Slow Cooked Lamb

    Finger Food

    • Broiled shrimp.
      Party Shrimp Recipe
    • Tortilla cheese chips, Tortilla cheese crisps, Tucson Cheese Crisps, Blogging Marathon, Tortilla dish,
      Arizona Cheese Crisps
    • Plate of bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers
      3 Ingredient Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
    • A platter of Fiesta pinwheels and a bowl of salsa
      Fiesta Pinwheels, Yummy Party Food

    Curry Recipes

    • A bowl of lima beans curry.
      Lima Beans Curry, Video Recipe
    • Bowl of ulligadda ukkera.
      Onion Egg Curry ~ Ulligadda Ukkera
    • A bowl of chikkudukaya kura or Indian broad beans in a platter along with a bowl of rice.
      Chikkudukaya Kura - Indian Broad Beans Fry
    • Gutti vankaya masala is a flavorful eggplant curry stuffed with peanut sesame spice mix.
      Gutti Vankaya Masala - Stuffed Baby Eggplant Curry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Subscribe

    Contact

    • Know Me

    Copyright © 2025 MySpicyKitchen

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.