The world has been chopping,cooking,relishing Ladies Fingers all the while. It is high time they eat some Gentleman’s toes too.
Haha!Don’t get scared.Gentleman’s toes,Gherkins,Ivy Gourd,Baby Watermelon,Scarlet Gourd, Tindora,Donda Kai,Gol kankri,Fruited gourd or Telakucha are all different names of this ellipsoid berry shaped vegetable native to East Africa but now available in different parts of the world. In Hyderabad, it is popularly called as Donda. It has a smooth skin with a crunchy and cucumber like flesh and is a storehouse of nutrients,minerals and vitamins.
This little vegetable is highly underrated. If you believe in the saying ‘good things come in small packages’ then you should see the health benefits and amazing variety of dishes which can be made with these little gourds. It is a low calorie but iron rich food which helps fight obesity,lower blood sugar levels,prevent kidney stones,combat fatigue and maintain a healthy metabolism.You can eat this delightful vegetable pickled,curried,fried,in soups or porridge.
I have this amazing recipe of Ivy Gourd which will make you fall in love with this little wonder if you aren’t already that is. The vegetables are sliced and stir fried in very less oil,seasoned with salt and pepper and caramelized with honey and sugar. It results in a deliciously sweet, crunchy but juicy dish which tastes best with steamed rice. The fried mint and nuts sprinkled on top impart a nutty and minty flavor and added crunch to the dish. Don’t wait! Order your packet of fresh gherkins and give this dish a try.
Caramelized Gherkins-Honey Tindora
Ingredients:
- 500 g fresh Ivy Gourd sliced in roundels
- 2 tbsp.Oil
- 1 tsp. ginger garlic paste
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 6 cashew nuts and 6 almonds
- a few mint leaves
Method:
- Heat a wok or non stick pan and add the sliced vegetables.
- Saute over medium heat for 5 minutes. Make sure they don’t stick to the pan and burn.
- Now add the oil and saute on low heat.
- Add the ginger garlic paste and mix well.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Saute further.
- Dissolve the sugar and honey in a tablespoon of water and add to the vegetables.
- Saute till the gherkins appear crisp.
- In a separate pan add a teaspoon or two of oil and fry the nuts and mint leaves.
- Sprinkle the fried nuts and mint leaves on top of the dish before serving.
- Serve hot with steamed rice.
Aromas and Flavors from my Kitchen 
I have never heard of these, how interesting. I’m going to look up how they grow. Your Wikipedia link is to okra and they don’t look like okra at all. Okra is slightly ridged and often a tiny bit fuzzy, they also have a slimy juice when cut.
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Oh sorry! I didn’t link the Gherkins. I will do it right now. Okra is what is popularly known as Ladies fingers because they seem to look like them 🙂 They are different from Gherkins. You can find them on this link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinia_grandis
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinia_grandis
I think this is the link you want. It sounded very interesting from your post and I thought about planting it. Wikipedia says it is a vine and can become invasive. Maybe in a container? Have you grown it?
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I haven’t grown them. They are so easily available here round the year so I never really thought of planting them.
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From my investigating on the web, don’t think I will plant them either. They are incredibly invasive and hard to eradicate. I will, however, keep an eye out for them at the specialty produce market. I’d love to try them.
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Great recipe! Sounds delicious!
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Thanks Megala👍🏻😊
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Thank you so much Megala😊
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I loved your recipe. This is one of my favourite vegetables.
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I am so glad you liked it Anuradha. My family started liking this vegetable only after this recipe. Thank you so much.
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Never heard of this interesting vegetable and now I’m so curious about it. A shame I can’t find it here, but it’s very inspiring to see the way you use the pickles, with all these lovely flavors and textures. Maybe I’ll find a local substitute. 🙂
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I think you can get hold of it online Ronit. It has so many names. It should be available under one of those. Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂
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Will definitely look for it. 🙂
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I didn’t know tindora is called as Gentlemen’s toes.Thank you for that information and this delicious dish.Sweet dish with tindora never tried.Will do when I get next time
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Probably they got the name because they look like them😬 And the recipe is awesome and interesting. Do try it Lathiya🙂
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Wow like Liz I’ve never heard of this vegetable but will keep my eyes out for them!
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I am sure you will find them soon Laura👍🙂
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I used to make a bhaji kind of thing with it…your recipe sounds delicious. A must try very soon.☺
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Thanks Tandrima. I would love to try your bhajji recipe too. Is it the same as onion bhajji.
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yes, absolutely.
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yes…absolutely.
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Wow…I always make this veggie at home but Couldn’t imagine it could be made this way too..will surely try it..😊
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Yes Neethu. You must try it. It turns out delicious👌
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A veggie with a “catchy” name always draws me in. However, because it is a pest and very invasive it would not be a favorite. I am sure there are other vegetables that could replace it. The recipe looks great – just not the veggie 🙂
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Thank you Aunt Juju! This delicious vegetable is so easily available here that planting it never occurred to me. It is so much more easier buying it off the shelf.
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So essentially you want me to suck on toes?!! 😉 Haha I couldn’t resist writing that. Seriously though it looks to be a dynamite dish (the perfect partner for those lady fingers you spoke about). The post title really did make me wonder though, my friend! 🙂
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Haha! I was waiting for someone to say that. But this time we will bite and chew😀 I couldn’t resist writing that title 😬🙈 The dish is amazing though
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Laughing 😉 Great that it’s a yummy dish. Have a delish weekend 🙂
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LOL, the not so appetizing names we come up with for foods! 😀 This is a fascinating dish. Mega hugs.
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Haha thanks Teagan. Lots of hugs to you too.
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Now, this is one well flavored dish that also seems apart to me. I have never heard from it but want to make this soon! It looks very inviting too! 🙂 Yum!
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Yum, I must try it this way. It’s making my mouth water! These are available at any Indian store here in the US and at some international markets.
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I was never fond of this vegetable until this recipe happened. Now I wouldn’t cook it another way. Thanks for stopping by and you must try it.
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Yummy! What a great dish!
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Thanks Dianne😊Are Gherkins commonly available where you live.
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No but I can find them. Just not readily available.
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wow this looks delish. i gotto try these, only where will i find it in america 😦
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Thank you so much! Maybe Amazon can help.
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