Kovakka/Tindoora/Ivy Gourd Thoran

This is something that started out as a regular thoran but turned out to be a bit different since I had to use up a lonely tomato in my refrigerator that was threatening to go bad on me and then there were 2 spoon fulls of Dry shrimp fry which no one seemed to want to finish.So those got added to the regular thoran and it turned out to be exceptionally good.

Ingredients:

1. Tindoora/Kovakka/Ivy Gourd - 1.5 lbs cut into medium sized pieces
2. Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
3. Shallots - 5 sliced
4. Green chillies - 5
5. Garlic - 2 cloves
6. Toasted Whole Dry shrimp - 2 tbsp (Optional)
7. Tomato - 1 chopped (optional)
8. Curry leaves - 2 springs
9. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
10. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
11. Oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Grind the coconut,green chillies,garlic and turmeric powder to a coarse paste ( 3 or 4 pulses in the food processor).
Heat oil in a pan and add the mustard seeds.
When it splutters add the shallots,tindoora and chopped tomatoes and salt to taste and stir fry for few minutes.
Sprinkle a bit of water and cover and cook for 5 minutes.
Add in the coconut mixture , curry leaves and dry shrimp and mix well.
Cover and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the tindoora is cooked well.