Looking for tindora near you in Los Angeles? We keep it both ways at Anoras Cash N Carry in the Fairfax District — fresh by the pound at the produce counter, and pre-cut in the freezer for the nights you don't feel like chopping. Tindora (ivy gourd, also called tendli, kundru, or kovakkai) is that small, striped little gourd that turns crispy and addictive when you fry it right, and it's one of the harder things to track down in a regular LA supermarket. Here's what it is, how to pick and store it, a couple of easy ways to cook it, and exactly what we carry.

What is tindora (ivy gourd)?

Tindora is a small, olive-shaped green gourd, usually an inch or two long, with faint pale stripes running down the skin. You'll see it under a lot of names depending on where your family cooks from: tendli in Gujarati and Marathi kitchens, kundru in the north, kovakkai or dondakaya down south. It grows on a climbing vine and shows up constantly in home cooking because it's mild, quick, and forgiving.

Raw, it's fairly bland — a little like a firm, seedy cucumber. Cooking is where it comes alive. Sliced thin and fried on high heat, the edges go golden and crisp while the inside stays tender. That crunch is the whole point, and it's why tindora sabzi disappears off the plate faster than almost anything else.

Where can you buy tindora near you in Los Angeles?

The most reliable place to find tindora near you is an Indian grocery, and that's exactly what we do. At Anoras Cash N Carry, 567 S Fairfax Ave, we stock fresh tindora by the pound at $6.60/lb, plus two frozen options for when you want zero prep. We're a few minutes from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, and Koreatown, open daily 10 AM–9 PM.

If you'd rather not make the trip, we deliver across a 10-mile radius from 10 AM–8 PM — $35.97 minimum order, $7.98 delivery, and free when you spend over $99, usually at your door in about 45 minutes. Live outside the delivery zone? Order online for free in-store pickup with no minimum; it's ready in about an hour.

How do you pick good fresh tindora?

Go for firm and bright. The best fresh tindora is a clean, light green with visible white stripes and a bit of a snap when you press it. Smaller ones are the sweet spot — they're tender all the way through and cook up crisp.

What to skip: anything soft, wrinkled, or turning yellow or red, and the oversized ones. Big tindora tends to be seedy and mealy inside, closer to a ripe gourd than the crunchy vegetable you want. A quick way to check is to snap one in half — pale, dense, and barely any seeds means you've got a good batch.

How do you store tindora so it stays crisp?

Keep fresh tindora unwashed in the fridge, loosely bagged, and it'll hold for about a week to ten days. Washing before you store it traps moisture and speeds up spoilage, so rinse only right before you cook. If it starts to soften, use it that day — softer tindora still works fine in a stir-fry, it just won't crisp quite the same.

For anything longer, frozen is the smarter buy. Frozen cut tindora is already washed, trimmed, and sliced, and it keeps for months — you cook it straight from frozen, no thawing.

How do you cook tindora? Two easy ways

Crispy tindora sabzi. This is the classic. Wash, trim the ends, and slice the tindora thin — about 3mm, lengthwise or in rounds. Heat oil, crackle some mustard seeds (rai), add a pinch of turmeric and salt, then the tindora. Here's the trick: high heat, enough oil, and don't crowd the pan. Cook in batches and resist stirring too much — let the slices sit and crisp before you turn them. Finish with red chili and a little coconut or crushed peanuts if you like.

Tindora with peanuts (Maharashtrian style). Same start, but toss in a handful of crushed roasted peanuts and a spoon of ground peanut toward the end. The nuttiness plays off the crunch and turns a plain sabzi into something you'll want with hot rotis or dal-rice.

Either way, tindora keeps well and reheats without turning to mush, so it's a solid make-ahead for lunchboxes.

Fresh vs frozen tindora: which should you buy?

Buy fresh when crispiness is the goal — nothing beats thin-sliced fresh tindora fried till golden, and at $6.60/lb it's an easy weeknight vegetable. Buy frozen when you want speed. The pieces come pre-cut, cook from frozen, and land somewhere between crisp and tender — perfect for a fast sabzi after work. Plenty of our regulars keep both: fresh for the weekend cook, a bag in the freezer for busy nights.

Which brands and sizes does Anoras carry?

Here's what's on our shelves in the Fairfax District:

• Fresh Tindora (per lb) — $6.60/lb, sold loose at the produce counter for that crispy stir-fry.
• Laxmi Frozen Tindora Cut, 300g — $2.75, pre-cut and ready to cook from frozen; a great single-meal size.
• Vadilal Frozen Tindora (Ivy Gourd), Bulk — $9.90, the value pack for families and frequent cooks.

Want to build a full sabzi run? Browse our Frozen Foods aisle, and if you like cooking your way through Indian vegetables, our guide to where to buy karela (bitter melon) in Los Angeles is a good next stop.

Frequently asked questions about tindora

What is tindora called in English?

Tindora is called ivy gourd in English. You may also see it labeled tendli, kundru, kovakkai, or dondakaya — all the same small striped gourd.

How do you get tindora crispy?

Slice it thin, use enough oil, cook on high heat, and don't crowd the pan. Let the slices sit undisturbed so they crisp instead of steaming, and cook in batches if you're making a lot.

Can you eat tindora raw?

You can, but it's much better cooked. Raw tindora is bland and a little seedy; frying or stir-frying brings out its flavor and gives you that signature crunch.

Is fresh or frozen tindora better?

Fresh tindora crisps up best and is ideal for a classic sabzi. Frozen cut tindora is pre-prepped and cooks straight from frozen — better when you want a quick meal with no chopping.

Where can I buy tindora near me in Los Angeles?

At Anoras Cash N Carry, 567 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036. We carry it fresh and frozen, open daily 10 AM–9 PM, with local delivery within 10 miles and free in-store pickup.