Preparation:

• Wash and chop Ivy gourd into vertical pieces.
• Make this special varuval podi before cooking kovaikkai. You can make it ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe:

How to make the varuval podi(special powder for stir fry vegetables):

• In a flat pan roast raw peanuts for few minutes until they become brown and crunchy.
• If you have already fried ground nuts you can skip this frying step.
• When peanuts start popping out add coriander seeds.
• Also add gram dal, urad dal, pepper and cumin seeds.
• Add Kashmiri chillies and red chillies of your choice and roast for few minutes. Kashmiri chillies are just for the red color and you can just avoid them if you don't have.
• Roast for few minutes, switch off and allow them to cool down.
• Grind into a coarse powder and use or store.

How to make the kovaikkai varuval:

• Heat oil in another frying pan and season with curry leaves.
• Add Ivy gourd pieces and saute in oil.
• Keep stirring until they become soft and tender.
• Sprinkle few drops of water, cover with a lid for a few minutes to cook the kovaikkai.
• Now add the ground varuval powder and mix well.
• Let the vegetable absorb the spices for five minutes in low heat and switch off.