Tendli Masala Bhaat | Ivy Gourd Masala Rice

Step by step instructions to make simple Tendli/Ivy Gourd Masala Bhaat, Maharashtrian style. With the addition of lentils, this rice is one wholesome treat!

Tendli/Tondli/Ivy Gourd Rice is my husband's favorite dish. Tendli or Ivy Gourd is a popular vegetable used in Indian cooking. One can make regular curry with it or add them to rice to make pulao like this. While reading more about it, I got to know that Ivy gourd has been considered as a therapeutic herb in traditional Thai as well as Ayurvedic medication. This was brand new information to me that left me surprised. Ivy gourd includes beta-carotene, an important vitamin A precursor from plant sources. Additionally it is also regarded as an excellent source of protein and fiber. Tendli also has laxative properties and cleans the bowel moments of the body. So yes, it is considered to be one of the nutritious green vegetables. We, Indians use this green vegetable a lot in our day-to-day cooking and create simple and easy recipes with it. 

Tendli/Ivy Gourd Masala Bhaat is my mom's quick fix rice recipe. While growing up, since I didn't enjoy the sabzi so much, she would add to rice and convert it into a spicy pulao for me. She had got this idea from our neighbor. They being Maharashtrians, would make Tendli Masala Bhaat often. Many years later, after my marriage to KR, I got to know that he too loves this combo and asked me to make it for him.  I tried to recollect the recipe my mom made and also decided to give it my own twist. This rice recipe is mildly spiced with Indian seasonings and is a perfect dish for a weekend brunch. I have prepared it with basmati rice, lentils and whole garam masala to make this dish even more flavorful. Tendli and rice pair very well with one another and together make a power-packed wholesome meal that's spicy and delicious. 

Wash the rice and tur dal well. Cook them both together in 2 cups of water along with bay leaf, cinnamon stick and peppercorns in a rice cooker. Once done, give it a good mix to separate the grains. Cut tendli lengthwise. In a pan, add the ghee or cooking oil. Once it has melted. temper the cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Then fry the minced green chillies, garlic and ginger. Add the onions and saute it for a minute or two. Add chopped cilantro, turmeric powder, coriander-cumin powder and salt. Fry the masala for a minute. It's time to add the tendli and Homemade Garam Masala. Sprinkle water and saute them for 4-5 minutes. The tendli needs to well cooked and become soft. Now add the cooked rice and dal to it. Mix it all well, check and add salt, garnish with cilantro and take it off the flame. 

Serve this Tendli/Ivy Gourd Masala Bhaat hot with Roasted Garlic & Tomato Raita or Minty Cucumber Raita and some roasted papad. This rice is a welcome break to the regular pulao or the traditional curry. Bhaat also means rice is flavorful with all the whole spices we have cooked it in and the other ingredients come beautifully together to create this delicious meal. Vegetarian cooking is so much fun. One can make interesting recipes pairing different veggies and spices to create a new dish. Plus eating your greens is always a good idea.

Tendli/Ivy Gourd Masala Bhaat

Step by step instructions to make simple Tendli/Ivy Gourd Masala Bhaat, Maharashtrian style. With the addition of lentils, this rice is one wholesome treat!

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Course: Main Course, rice, Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian, Maharashtrian

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

Ingredients 

• 1 cup of Tondli/Ivy Gourd cut in long strips
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 large tomatoes finely chopped
• 1/2 cup tur dal
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2-3 cloves
• 2-3 peppercorns
• 4-5 garlic cloves minced
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tbsp cilantro paste
• 2 tbsp  Homemade Garam Masala
• Salt
• 1 tbsp ghee/clarified butter
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro

Instructions

• Wash the rice and tur dal well. Cook them both together in 3 cups of water along with bay leaf, cinnamon stick and peppercorns in a rice cooker.Once done, give it a good mix to separate the grains.
• In a pan, add the ghee.
• Once it has melted. temper the cumin and mustard seeds. Then fry the garlic and ginger paste.
• Add the onions and saute it for a minute or two.
• Add the tomatoes and salt. Cook it for another minute till they are done.
• It's time to add the tondli and Homemade Garam Masala. Saute them for 4-5 minutes.
• The tondli needs to well cooked and become soft. Now add the cooked rice and dal to it. Mix it all well.
• Check salt and add if necessary. Sprinkle cilantro before serving. Serve this Tondli/Ivy Gourd Rice hot with Roasted Garlic & Tomato Raita or Minty Cucumber Raita.

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Rice dishes work great at brunch tables, weeknight meals, weekend get-together, and at parties. Here are some interesting ones that you can try for next time - Beetroot Rasam Rice, Coconut Mustard Rice, Green Peas Pulao, Bell pepper Rice, and Cilantro Spinach Lentil Rice.