TONDEKAI BATH
Cooked rice is usually referred to as Bath. A particular 'Variety Rice', Kalanda Sadam or Chitraanna gets its name depending on the ingredients cooked along with rice. When rice is cooked with bele/dal and spice it is called Bisibelebath. Cooked with Eggplant/Brinjals and spice it becomes Vangi Bath. Plain rice turns into Tomato Bath when cooked with tomatoes and spice.The spice powder used makes a huge difference when it comes to the taste and flavour of different varieties of Baths. Here Tondekai/Ivy gourd is combined with rice and spice to make a delicious and flavoursome Tondekai Bath.
INGREDIENTS
Rice - 2 cups
Ivy Gourd/Tondekai - 500 gms
Sesame oil - 2 tbsps
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - 1 pinch
Curry leaves - a few
Turmeric powder - 1 pinch
Salt - 1 1/2 tsps
Lime - 1 small
Coriander leaves
Cashew nuts - 10 (Roasted)
INGREDIENTS FOR THE SPICE POWDER
Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Bengal gram dal/Chana dal - 1/2 tbsp
Black gram dal/Urad dal - 1/2 tbsp
Red chillies - 8 to 10
Cinnamon - 1'' stick
Cardamom - 1
Cloves - 4
Dry coconut gratings (Copra) - 1 tbsp
Asafoetida - 1 pinch
Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 tsp
Sesame oil - 1/4 tsp
TO MAKE THE SPICE POWDER
1. Heat oil and add cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
2. When the cloves and cardamom bloat up add the coriander seeds, dals, fenugreek seeds and red chillies and roast till they emanate a pleasant aroma.
3. Add asafoetida, fry for a second and switch off flame.
4. When the roasted spice are completely cooled blend them into a smooth powder using a mixer.
5. Add the copra gratings and blend once again.
TO MAKE THE TONDEKAI BATH
1. Cook rice with four cups of water and spread it out on a plate to cool.
2. Cut Ivy Gourd/ Tondekai into lengthwise strips.
3. Heat oil in a kadai and splutter mustard seeds.
4. Add asafoetida, curry leaves and turmeric powder followed by chopped Tondekai/Ivy Gourd.
5. Stir in the salt and cover and cook till the vegetable is al dente.
6. Add the spice powder and stir well.
7. Switch off flame, squeeze in the lime juice and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Tondekai Curry is ready to be mixed with rice. This Curry can also be relished with rotis or chapatis.
8. Break the lumps and fluff up the rice so that each grain stands separate.
9. Add the Tondekai Curry to the rice and mix gently till each grain is evenly coated with spice. Add little more oil or a spoon of ghee if you feel that the Curry is too dry to be mixed.
Add the Curry little by little as much as required and adjust the taste of the Bath to your liking.
10. Finally mix in the roasted cashew nuts.
Relish the delicious and flavoursome Tondekai Bath/ Ivy Gourd Rice with a bowl of cool mixed vegetable Raita and a crunchy Papad.
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