Spiced with coriander and cumin, this tomato-coconut Tindora Curry is still quite mild ~ and, with a side of quinoa or rice, it makes for a delicious, easy, and quick vegetarian dinner.
Tindora (not to be confused with the dating app Tinder) is a cute little gourd that I walked by more times than the years Tinder (the app) has been around; and never thought to try – till yesterday! I know my memory isn’t what it used to be, but, I don’t recall coming across Tindora while I lived in Sri Lanka – even though it is said to be widely popular in the South Asian Subcontinent. After having seen so many people buy it by the bag-full at a South Asian store I frequent; curiosity got the better of me, and I brought home my own bag-full of this spiky, mini, cucumber look-alike.
Of course, I cajoled my trusty friend, Google, to share more info about Tindora with me and was so surprised to find that this mild-tasting, bland, juicy, fruit off of a vine had a slew of health benefits. From being touted as a blood sugar regulator to an antioxidant to an immune system modulator, this little gourd had it’s share of accolades.
But, that’s not all. Google also directed me to the plethora of ways that Tindora can be enjoyed. I drooled for hours over dry curries, broth based curries, stuffed Tindora recipes, and pickled Tindora concoctions. I managed to talk myself out of torturing my taste-buds by perusing Pinterest for another hour, and actually taste-testing Tindora for myself. While it looks a lot like a mini cucumber, Tindora is a lot crunchier than cucumber and can be eaten raw or cooked. It seemed milder in taste than a cucumber – if that’s imaginable.
I decided to use a curry base I use often when trying to throw together a quick, easy and delicious curry together. I started off with a caramelized onion, grated ginger and garlic in a pot. I added in the Tindora at this point and then finished off my curry with tomato paste, coconut milk, coriander, cumin, paprika, and turmeric, and salt and pepper to taste. My daughter enjoyed this curry so much that she decided to tempt fate by eating it straight from the pan – saying, “sometimes plates can be so over-rated!“
[Tweet “Creamy, Spiced, Coconut-Tomato Tindora Curry #easy #vegetarian”]
What new veggie or fruit have you tried, or plan on trying this summer?
And, my daughter suggested I pose this next question to y’all – and that is: would you “swipe right” on this Tindora Curry if you saw it pop up on Tinder? 😆
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped Tindora
- 1 red onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic diced
- 2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger
- 1 can tomato paste 6 oz
- 1 can coconut milk 12 oz
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- Olive oil
- Parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a pan and add in the onions
- Let onions caramelize (15 minutes or so), stirring so they don't burn
- Add in the garlic, ginger and Tindora and stir well
- Then add in the tomato paste and coconut milk and mix till well combined
- Add in the turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, salt and pepper and let simmer over a low flame for about 7 minutes
- Garnish with parsley and enjoy
Nutrition
Speaking of my daughter, I will be MIA for the rest of July to enjoy her company (and stop her from eating from pans) before she starts her senior year of high school, so I apologize ahead of time if I don’t visit y’alls space on the interwebs – but I will be sure to visit in August!
Till then, here’s hoping your July summer days are oh so happy!
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This looks epic Shashi! I never had Tindora curry before and after seeing your recipe I know I need to try it asap!
Mike!!! Hey!!!! Yes, yes! I found Tindora here in a South Asian Store – haven’t seen it anywhere else though! I hope alls well with ya, my friend!
There’s nothing I love more than a good curry like this! Yum Shashi! It looks so delicious. Love the mixture of tomato and coconut in the sauce. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Ohhhh – that curry sauce has me swooning! I feel like I could plunge a fork right into that bowl! Delicious, my friend!!
Tindora is a new to me vegetable, but it sounds delicious in this curry. Enjoy your time with your daughter!
Ha – totally agree with your daughter that plates are overrated!!! Spoon it up from that pan, I say!
Found this post so interesting, Shashi, as I’ve never heard of this veggie before, let alone tasted it!
Love your ‘basic curry’ recipe, too – I have all those spices in my cupboard already!
Thanks for the recipe!! Looks great. We will miss you for the rest of July but you left us with a great dish 🙂
Tindora is one of my favorite vegetable. This is something which I make once in a every week. But most of the time I make it in two different ways. One is fried tindora and the other one I make by adding lots of soya chunks potato and coconut in it. Your version sounds delicious and I am planning to make it next week. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
We call it tondli and it taste awesome, slicing it in a finger like pieces is a task. Liked your version, will def try. Hope you have a wonderful time
Thanks for sharing this one as I have never heard of these little fellas, and all smothered in that luscious curry sauce would work!
Sounds much better than Tinder, to be honest. And I need to try a new veggie, so maybe this will be it!
I read this study the other day that curry prevents baldness, so I’m going to make this for all the grown men in my life! 🙂 Looks amazing.
I’d love to have this for dinner! Love the flavors going on here! Enjoy your time with your daughter!
Hahaha, love the clarification! I would certainly not only make it for tinder! 🙂 I love tindora curry and this mildly spiced version sounds so good to me! A perfect side dish. Have a lovely time with your daughter! 🙂
I’ve never heard of tindora, but I’m always up for trying new veggies – especially in the form of a delicious curry. This looks like a great meal 🙂
I’ve never heard of tindora before, but I’m going to see if it’s in our specialist Indian food store we have near by.
I do love your combination of spices here, and even if I can’t get tindora I’d still use your curry base with maybe chick peas or the like. Do you think that would go?
Enjoy your time MIA! You deserve it. Catch you in August! 😀
This looks so delicious! Love a quick dinner like this that has so much flavor!
Not sure I’ve ever seen Tindora, but I’m sure I’d love it! I love flavorful and filling veggie dishes — especially when they’re easy to make!
Love this recipe, even though I’ve never had tindora! Thanks so much for sharing! Great flavors in this dish, pinning to try it!
I’ve never heard of tindora before, Shashi, but I can’t wait to try it!! (and I’ve never tried Tinder, nor care to try that FYI) They (the tindora, not the tinder) look so cute and like they are begging to be up in my belly! Loving this tomato-coconut curry, chicka! I’m a huge fan of coriander and cumin, so this dish looks right up my alley! Thanks for introducing me to something new, girlfriend!! Cheers! xo
Never heard of Tindora, they look like little cucumbers. The curry looks so delicious. Looking forward to seeing you in NYC!!
It’s funny because I’ve been eating more vegetarian meals lately, and I still would have never guessed this dish was meat-free – it looks so tasty!
Thank you for clarifying, Shashi. Else I would think you made this curry just for Tinder! 😉 🙂 So cool–I’ve never heard of Tindora. It is definitely hard to imagine something having a milder taste than cucumbers, but I must trust Google and, more importanly, The Shashi when she tells me. 😉
I definitely would not/could not wait for this amazing curry to be bowled up. I would go straight for the pan! This dish looks simply amazing.
Have a great rest of July with your daughter! <3 I'll miss ya–but I'll be happy knowing that you're spending quality time with your kiddo before she leaves. Sending you much love! xoxo
Well I have never tried tindora either – I was completely ignorant – until TODAY!! Thank you Miss Shashi for some edicating. Edication is always good. Ha ha. Will have to try this gem tindora, a perfect ingredient for curry. And I’ll take my cue from your daughter, just pass me a fork. LOL. I hope you are having a great week, it’s a busy one here. Our church is hosting a missions team from Birmingham – doing an inner city camp — they are enjoying the cooler weather and the New England sights in the evenings. I am running around with the group and not working like I should be, but all work and no play makes allie a dull girl. Cheers to the coming weekend my friend. XO
I’ve never cooked with this either. Sounds like I’ve been missing out — what terrific flavor in this recipe! But then, curry. I’m always a sucker for curry. Thanks! And enjoy your time off with your daughter!
I need to get my hands on some of those cute little things! Love this curry Shashi!
So I think I remember seeing tindora at the Asian supermarket we’d go to in Atlanta. I just thought they were small cucumbers. I applaud you for grabbing some and then going home to read all about ’em…even if it did mean researching Tinder to get there. Hah! I’m fairly certain you can bring this with you on the plane up to NY. And speaking of NY, I hope you have an amazing trip…just 3 days away now! 🙂 Can’t wait. Like seriously can’t wait!!
Its look sooo delicious. Perfect dish!
thanks for sharing recipes with us here. Looking more from you dear
Those tindora gourds are so adorable and even better when they are in curry!