Chow Chow Kootu

Chayote squash is versatile vegetable in India, My Amma often cooks this veggie in kootu or in Poriyal form. It taste very good like white pumpkin, I like the poriyal She makes in this veggie. My Hubby likes the Chow-Chow kootu n Sambar very much,, it also very good veggie for weight-watchers. I cooked this chow-chow kootu with spinach poriyal n Okra poriyal for our dinner, My Hubby enjoyed it very much it was a complete healthy meal for us. Here, is the easy chow-chow kootu recipe for you as follows,

 

Ingredients:

 

1.Peeled and Cubed Chayote Squash - 1 no

2.Chana dal - 1 cup

3.Chopped tomatoes - 1 big

4.Sliced onions - 1/2 medium

5.Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

6.Salt as reqd

 

For Grinding:

 

1.Grated Coconut  - 1/2 cup

2.Green chillies - 3 no's

3.Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

 

For Seasoning:

 

1.Canola Oil - 2 tsp

2.Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

3.Curry leaves - 2 strings

 

Preparations:

 

1.Cook the chana dal, sliced onions, chopped tomatoes and turmeric powder in a pressure cooker for 2 whistles, after that open the pan add the cubed chow-chow to the dal mixture stir it well and cook for 1 whistle.

2.Grind the coconut, chillies n cumin seeds to fine paste. Keep it aside.

3.After the dal n chayote cooked well, open the lid of the pressure pan add the grounded coconut paste and salt. Stir it well and leave it cook in medium flame for 10-15 mts till the raw smell goes off.

4.In the separate frying pan, season the ingredients under for seasoning and pour it on top of the kootu.

5.Now the Curry leaves flavour rich Chow-Chow kootu is ready to serve with hot rice and any veggie or greens poriyal.

Paruppu Keerai kadaisal

Ingredients:
1.Thandu Keerai (amaranth tender or amaranth leaves) - 2 cups
2.Moong Dhal - 1/2 cup
3.Green Chillies - 3 nos
4.Garlic pods - 3 nos
5.Sliced Onions - 1/2 cup
6.Salt - to taste
7.Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

For Seasoning:
1.Oil - as reqd
2.Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
3.Curry Leaves - few

Method:
1.Pressure cook the dhal with turmeric powder for 4 whistles and keep it aside.
2.Heat the Oil in the kadai and season the ingredients.
3.Add the sliced onions and Green chillies.
4.Saute it well for 5 minutes and then add the chopped Greens.
5.Leave it to cook for a while and add the cooked dhal and salt.
6.Mix it well and add little water to cook.
7.Serve Paruppu Keerai for Hot Rice.

White Pumpkin Kootu

Ingredients:
1.White Pumpkin - 2 cups
2.Chana Dhal - 1/2 cup
3.Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
4.Salt - to taste

For Grinding:
1.Grated Coconut - 4 tbsp
2.Green Chillies - 3 nos
3.Jeera Seeds - 2 tsp
4.Oil - as reqd

For Seasoning:
1.Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
2.Curry Leaves - few

Method:
1.Pressure Cook the Chana Dhal with Turmeric Powder for 4 whistles and keep it aside.
2.Heat the oil in tha pan and season the ingredients and put the cubely sliced Pumpkins,saute for a while.
3.Grind the items under for Grinding and mix it with the mixture.
4.Mix it well and add a salt.
5.Now add the cooked dhal and leaves to cook for 10 minutes.
6.Its time to serve the Neer Poosanikkai Kootu for Hot Rice and Sambar.

Raw Plantain Tomato Kootu

Ingredients:
1.Raw Plantains - 1 cup
2.Cooked Chana Dhal - 1/2 cup
3.Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
4.Tomatoes - 2 nos
5.Onions - 1/2
6.Sambar Powder - 1/2 tbsp
7.Salt - to taste
8.Oil - as reqd

For Seasoning:
1.Oil - as reqd
2.Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
3.Curry leaves - few

Method:
1.Pressure cook the chana dhal and raw plantains with turmeric powder,keep it aside.
2.Heat the oil in the pan and season the ingredients.
3.Add the sliced onions and saute it for a while.
4.Add the sliced tomatoes and cook it for 5 minutes.
5.Now add the cooked chana dhal and Raw Plantains.
6.Now add the sambar powder and salt.
7.Leave it to cook for 10 minutes.
8.Now serve it with Sambar Sadham or with Morkuzhambhu Rice.

Cabbage Kootu

Ingredients :
1.Chopped Cabbage - 2 cups
2.Cooked Chana Dhal - 1/2 cup
3.Oil - as reqd
4.Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
5.Curry Leaves - few
6.Salt - to taste

For Grinding:
1.Grated Coconut - 4 tbsp
2.GreenChillies - 3 nos
3.Jeera Seeds - 1 tsp

Method:
1.Grind the ingredients into a smooth paste and keep it aside.
2.Pressure cookthe chana dhal with turmeric powder and keep it aside.
3.Heat the oil in a pan and seasonthe mustard seeds,curry leaves.
4.Add the Chopped Cabbage and cook for a while.
5.Now add the grounded paste, salt and 1/2 cup water to cook.
6.Serve the Cabbage Kootu for Chapathi or For Rice and Sambar.

Carrot Usili

Ingredients:
1.Carrot - 2 cups
2.Cooked Moong Dhal - 1/2 cup
3.Onions - 1/2 cup
4.Green Chillies - 2 nos
5.Curry Leaves - few
6.Grated Coconut - 1/2 cup (Optional)
7.Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
8.Oil - as reqd
9.Salt - to taste

Method:
1.Half Cook the Moong Dhal with turmeric powder and keep it aside.
2.Heat the oil in a pan and season the mustard seeds,curry leaves.
3.Add the sliced onions,Green Chillies and saute it for a while.
4.Now add the chopped Carrots and add little water to cook.
5.After 5 minutes add the Half Cooked Moong Dhal ,Salt and close the lid to cook.
6.Atlast add the grated Coconut.
7.Serve the Carrot Usili for Chapathi or with Hot Rice.

Okra Tamarind Kootu

Ingredients:
1.Okra - 2 cups
2.Tamarind Pulp - 1/2 cup
3.Green Chillies - 1 no
4.Chopped Small Onions - 1/2 cup
5.Curry Leaves - few
6.Sambar Powder - 2 tsps
7.Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
8.Salt - to taste
9.Oil - as reqd

Method:
1.Heat the oil in the pan and season the mustard seeds ,curry leaves.
2.Now add the chopped onions and green chillies.
3.Saute it well for 5 minutes and add the chopped Okra.
4.Cook the Okra for a while.
5.After got half cook add the tamraind pulp,turmeric powder and salt.
6.Leave it to cook till the mixture turns thick.
7.Serve the Okra puzhi Kootu for Hot Rice.