• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Spice your Life! logo
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Blogging Marathon Details
    • Next BM Announcement
    • BM Participants
  • Also on: Cooking 4 all Seasons
  • Nav Social Menu

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Index
  • ×
    Home » Vegetarian Side Dishes » Tinda Kootu | Tinda Curry ~ South Indian Thali

    Tinda Kootu | Tinda Curry ~ South Indian Thali

    Published: May 26, 2012 · Modified: Oct 5, 2020 by Srivalli · 19 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    3 shares
    • 2
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    For the fifth day, I have another thali to share, which is again an everyday Lunch meal. We ended up making so many dishes that day because we had an overload of vegetables and there was a serious case of them getting rotten. So to save them, we ended up cooking a storm and eating them over time.
    And since it was a bland food for me for a week, Amma said she would do it and this was the result. Seeing so many curries and kootus I had to ask what all went in. I liked the Kootu that she had made, she said she cooked with a new vegetable and forgot what the vendor called it.
    The kootu was very good, naturally, I had to make it again. So I asked her for the vegetable name. I even told her that she can give me hints and I can search over the web. Within a couple of secs, I was able to land in the right place and showed her the picture. She was excited that I found the vegetable so quickly.
    South Indian Thali
    We read on it extensively and came to know it was called Indian Apple Gourd. Tinda in hind, and is mostly grown in North and quite a common vegetable in Punjab. Amma said that since she was going again the same day she would clarify the name with the Vendor. I didn't comment anything on that and let her to ask.
    I was all curious myself and called her the moment she came back from the shop. With a sheepish smile, she said what happened at the shop. She asked the vendor and pat came the reply, "Aadu Linda Madam" (That's Linda Madam). Amma didn't know how to react and said had I not told her what it is actually called, she might have assumed so..:)
    Now coming to the Linda Kootu, it's such an healthy and hearty kootu. We have got Tinda again and make Kootu with Moong. If you haven't tried Linda Kootu, then I strongly suggest you do!
    After all Linda, oops Tinda is very tasty!
    Tinda Kootu
    Tinda Kootu

    Tinda Kootu

    Ingredients Needed:

    Tinda / Indian Apple Gourd - 1, chopped into small pieces.
    Split Yellow Moong dal / Pesarapappu = 1/2 cup
    Onions - 1 small
    Tomato - 1 medium
    Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
    Salt to taste

    Tempering

    Curry Leaves few
    Dry Red chilies - 3
    Mustard Seeds, Urad Dal - 1/2 tsp
    Oil - 1 tsp

    How to make the Tinda Kootu
    Wash and peel the outer skin from the Tinda, chop into small pieces.
    Wash the split yellow moong dal, take it in a pressure cooker along with tinda, cumin seeds, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, salt with a cup of water. Pressure cook for couple of whistles.
    Once the pressure falls, remove the lid. In an another pan, heat with oil. Add mustard seeds, urad dal. When it splutters, add broken dry red chilies, curry leaves. Toss around and pour into the cooked dal. Mix well and bring to boil
    Serve with Sambar and Rice.

    Recipe

    Print Pin

    Tinda Kootu | Tinda Curry ~ South Indian Thali

    Cuisine Tamil Nadu
    Author Srivalli
    Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!

    This Poricha Chow Chow Sundal Kootu is yet another delicious side dish you serve with rice.

    « Dosakaya Pachadi | Dosakaya Chutney ~ Andhra Special
    Beetroot Rasam | Step by Step Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shobha says

      May 26, 2012 at 9:24 pm

      Linda-(Tinda)story was interesting...nice southern curry (kootu)version of the North Indian vegetable.

      Reply
    2. Priya says

      May 26, 2012 at 9:41 pm

      Never tried tinda till now in my cooking, we get them rarely here,kootu looks super comforting.

      Reply
    3. Jayanthi says

      May 27, 2012 at 4:08 am

      I love tinda and I've always eaten it south indian style...love the color of your kootu Valli...nice one.

      Reply
    4. vaishali sabnani says

      May 27, 2012 at 1:36 am

      Valli this Linda..oops!!..tinda veggie is one of our fav at home..and this version sounds quick n easy..will surely make it..hubby will be happy to eat a new version:))

      Reply
    5. The Pumpkin Farm says

      May 27, 2012 at 4:51 am

      nice linda story :). It is made very differently normally than the way you have made it, but this is very easy and interesting...it is also pretty popular in the upper parts of maharashtra..we stuff it with roasted masala similar to brinjals or capsicums...it is indeed very tasty vegetable

      Reply
    6. PriyaVaasu says

      May 27, 2012 at 5:25 am

      You can even make curry with some onions and tomatoes valli, this veggie adds a unique taste to the dish!!!! i have tasted them once and loved that flavor, didn't know that we get tinda in chennai too!!!!!

      Reply
    7. Swati Sapna says

      May 27, 2012 at 7:49 am

      We get Tindas aplenty in Mumbai... but I have always considered it a very boring vegetable with no real flavour of its own! Now Tinda in a Kootu.... hmmm... interesting!

      Reply
    8. Sangeetha says

      May 27, 2012 at 10:54 pm

      tinda kottu sounds yummy n i love your Thali...part, jamun looks too tempting...great effort Valli!!

      Reply
    9. foodiliciousnan says

      May 27, 2012 at 7:26 pm

      Interesting read! I hated tinda as a kid. But after moving to the south and rarely getting to eat it, it has become one of my favourites. I buy it whenevr i see it at the veg vendor in chennai. It taste wonderful in a normal curry on it's own or with tomato and onion as a side for rotis.

      Reply
    10. Pragyan says

      May 27, 2012 at 10:43 pm

      Nice twist to Linda..oops, Tinda! That was funny. This looks so much more edible than the Tinda recipe in my undergrad mess which has made me avoid this veggie no matter what!

      Reply
    11. Cool Lassi(e) says

      May 28, 2012 at 2:23 am

      Hope you are feeling well. Now I want to see how that indian apple gourd looks like. I will be searching for it after I am done commenting here.

      Reply
    12. Suma Gandlur says

      May 28, 2012 at 3:33 am

      That thali looks inviting. I have never cooked with tinda though I have seen it at the grocery shops here.

      Reply
    13. Smitha says

      May 28, 2012 at 5:38 am

      haha...nice one....Linda kootu is surely tasty and delicious!

      Reply
    14. Nalini's Kitchen says

      May 28, 2012 at 3:57 pm

      Nice Linda story....kottu looks so yummy,we get this veggie here and first time I thought it is parangipinchu(tender pumpkin),after cutting the the veggie only came to know its a different veggie,will try this kottu next time when i buy this veggie....

      Reply
    15. Pavani says

      May 28, 2012 at 7:42 pm

      I'm going to look for tinda on my next Indian store visit. Kootu sounds delicious.

      Reply
    16. DivyaGCP says

      May 29, 2012 at 2:10 pm

      Interesting story behind the kootu.. Kootu looks so delicious and comforting..

      Reply
    17. Chef Mireille says

      May 29, 2012 at 4:25 pm

      nice write up. I can imagine the scene at the market. will have to look for this veggie next time I am at Indian market

      Reply
    18. vegeyum says

      July 10, 2016 at 9:29 am

      I just read your story on Linda, errr, Tinda, Srivalli. It made me smile. Great story. Give my greetings to your Mum. xx

      Reply
    19. Srivalli says

      July 10, 2016 at 12:27 pm

      Thanks Ganga..:)

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Search Recipes

    Vegetarian Side Dishes

    Awadhi Dum Bhindi

    No Tomato Mixed Vegetable Kurma ~ No Tomato Recipes

    Pavakkai Pitlai | Bitter gourd Pitlai

    Jalfrezi Paneer

    Jalfrezi Paneer | How to make Paneer Jalfrezi Sabzi

    Thalis and Spreads

    Idli, Meddu Vada, Hotel Sambar ~ South Indian Breakfast

    Uttar Pradesh Awadhi Thali

    Kolkata Street Food

    Kolkata Street Food

    Banarasi Street Food

    Banarasi Street Food

    Most Popular Posts

    Chena Tarkari

    Chhena Tarkari | Odia Style Paneer Curry

    Microwave Rommegrot

    Microwave Rømmegrøt ~ Norwegian Pudding

    Ice Cream Sandesh

    Ice Cream Sandesh | How to make Khoya Kulfi Sandesh

    Sprouted Moong Dal Idli

    Sprouted Moong Dal Idli ~ Low Carb Indian Vegetarian Recipe

    Popular One Pot Meals

    Ulava Charu Vegetable Biryani

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Spice your Life!