Tondali baath / tindora rice is an excellent tasty dish more popular in Maharashtra and Karnataka side .Very popular as one of the dishes in wedding feasts also . , where it is prepared more elaborately . As a lunch box dish this can be cooked very quickly and make s a good satisfying one pot dish . There are many small versions with more or less of spices , coconut milk or grated coconut , cashew nuts and dry fruits that can make this dish form a simple humble one to a more elaborate meal.

One of my favorite masala rice is this Thondali bhaat ( ivy gourds/ tindora rice ) , this makes an excellent lunch box dish too .

here is the recipe

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice, washed and drained well for 15 minutes

1/4 cup washed sliced tindora

1 tbsp ghee / oil

4 cloves

4 pepper corns

2 small pieces of cinnamon

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp chili powder and goda masala mixed

1/2 tsp garam masala

salt as needed

pinch of hing ( optional )

1 tbsp fresh grated coconut

1 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

Method

1. soak the basmati rice for about 15 minutes after washing it well .

2.. in pan add some ghee, sautee the sliced tindora, till it becomes crunchy but half cooked . set aside .

3.In the same pan , add more ghee and sautee the whole spices ., add the drained basmati rice, sautee with spices , now add the sauteed tindora slices, mix well , add the masala powders one by one , add salt,add required amount of boiling water and cook till done either in a pan or in a cooker, .

3. serve with garnished fresh grated coconut and coriander leaves .

suggestions :

1...you can also use coconut milk to cook with the rice , makes it very aromatic, in that case you can skip adding grated cocnut as garnish

2. cashew nuts may be added while frying the spices .

a quick video recipe is given below .