Porichcha Kootu

Kootu is a nutritious side-dish with the goodness of protein. The vegetables, being cooked with the dal adds to the nutritive value. ‘Poricha’ – means fried. The masala ingredients added to the Kootu is fried and ground before adding to the dal-veggie mixture. It makes it rich and flavorsome. It tastes best mixed with plain Rice and Ghee.

Podlangai = Snake Gourd.

Podalangai Porichcha Kootu

Ingredients:

2 cups Podalangai/Snake Gourd

½ cup Moong Dal

1 pinch Turmeric Pd

2 tsp Oil

½ tsp Mustard Seeds

½ tsp Urad Dal

1 Red Chilli

1 Curry Leaves

Masala Paste:

½ tsp Oil

1½ tsp Urad dal

1 tsp Channa dal

3 Red Chillies

¼ tsp Pepper

½ tsp Cumin

2 Tbsp Grated Coconut

Method:

Peel, deseed and cut snake gourd into tiny cubes.

Boil 2 cups water and cook moong dal in it with turmeric powder and ½ tsp oil.

Heat ½ tsp oil (for the masala paste) and sauté all the ingredients together; adding coconut at the very end. Cool slightly and powder coarsely.

When the dal is plump and half-cooked, add the chopped vegetable and simmer for 7 minutes. Add salt and ground paste. Simmer cook until well blended.

Heat oil for seasoning in a small pan and add mustardseeds, urad dal, chillies and curry leaves. Pour into hot Kootu.

Serve with hot Rice mixed with Ghee.