Kovakka Masala Curry/ Tindora Masala Curry

Well this dish happens to be the first ever dish I made when I was in 10th standard. Till that time, I had no idea about cooking or gas stove or making some curry. It was a saturday morning, my dad had a low blood pressure suddenly and my mom had to take him to the hospital and before leaving she asked me to cut the kovakkai into small round pieces and she said, she will come back from the doctor's office and finish the curry. I did cut the kovakkai(that time, I didn't know that my mom never uses ripe kovakkai in her cooking and I cut all of them). Since it was taking long in the doctor's office, she called me and explained me how to do the curry and she wanted me to make the curry. I was not very sure about my cooking skill but I had no other choice so went inside the kitchen and started making the curry. Everything went off well and I also finished the curry. I could not find any flaws in it. But after coming back from the doctor's office, we had our lunch. First of all my mom was little upset after seeing the ripe kovakkai and immediately taking the first bite, my mom said most of the pieces were not cooked at all. Those were literally raw. I just kept it in stove for about 5 mts and just drained the water and seasoned it with regular seasoning. But I didn't forget to put turmeric powder and salt :). We had our lunch without curry that day and after finishing our lunch, my mom cooked it and made a proper curry. Ofcourse, I got all those scoldings (because I was already 15 and never helped my mom in any of the house chores), but I didn't bother:). Today I made I made kovakka curry (not the same recipe and ofcourse Its fully cooked). Here is the recipe..

Ingredients:-

1. Tindora/Kovakkai - 1 cup (chopped)
2. Onion - 1 (chopped)
3. Tomato - 1/2 (if it is big or 1 if its medium) (chopped)
4. Salt to taste
5. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Red chillies powder - 3/4 tsp (or according to taste)
7. Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp (optional)
8. Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
9. oil - 1 tsp
10. mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
11. cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
    
12. Coriander leaves- for garnishing.

Pressure cook chooped tindora adding turmeric powder upto 2 whistles(do not over cook). When the pressure is released, drain it fully and keep it aside. In the mean time, pre heat a pan with oil, splutter mustard and cumin seeds, when its done, add chopped onion and saute for couple of minutes. Now add the chopped tomato and make sure both are fully cooked. Do not over cook onion and tomato. Now add the drained tindora to it and mix it well. Add red chillies powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and salt(I added everything together; some people add garam masala finally) and mix it well. Sprinkle a hand full of water and cover it with a lid for few minutes. When all the water is gone, turn off the stove and garnish it with coriander leaves....

This recipe goes to Shama's FIRST COOKED FOOD EVENT