Sorakaya Kootu (Bottle Gourd kootu)

"Kootu" is a South Indian delicacy served as side dish with rice and sambhar, chapathi, etc. Kootu is like a stew which is prepared by cooking channa or moong dal (yellow lentils) along with different vegetables like cabbage, carrot, beans, bottle gourd and several other vegetables. The base for curry is prepared using coconut, ginger, chilies and cumin seeds.

Ingredients

1 cup Channa Dal, soaked for 3-5 hours

250 gms Bottle gourd (sorakaya), cubed

1 cup grated coconut

1 inch Ginger

2 Green Chilies

¼ tsp. turmeric powder

Pinch of asafetida

½ tsp. Mustard seeds

1 tsp. cumin seeds

1 string of curry leaves

1 tsp. oil

Salt

Procedure

v  In a pressure cooker, cook channa dal and bottle gourd along with 2 cups of water up to 3 whistles

v  Using a blender, make a paste of coconut, ginger, green chilies, ½ tsp. cumin seeds and turmeric powder. Add water if required

v  After pressure cooker has cooled, pour the coconut mixture and adjust salt to taste. Bring it boil and cook for 5 to 10 minutes

v  For seasoning- heat 1 tsp. of oil, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves and asafetida. When it starts to splutter, add it to the curry

v  Serve with rice or chapathi