Moar Kootu ( Vegetables in Thick Curd and spices )

Kootu, a traditional Tamilian dish, makes up for a complete meal and is very filling as well. This Moar kootu is something similar to Aviyal. Like any “traditional” recipe, this too, has  many variations depending on  the region. It is easy to prepare and tastes great, with hot steaming rice .

Ingredients

  • Any combination of the following vegetables (5 or more) can be taken : Plantain stem, raw banana, ash gourd, chow chow, pumpkin, cluster beans, snake gourd 2 cups,
  • Coconut ½ cup,
  • Red chillies 4 to 5 numbers,
  • Cumin ½ teaspoon,
  • Red gram dal ½ teaspoon,
  • Curd 1 cup
  • Salt 1½ teaspoon,
  • Coconut oil 1 teaspoon ,
  • Mustard  ½ teaspoon,
  • Blackgram dal ½ teaspoon.

Method

  1. Wash and cut the vegetables into cubes of medium size. Cook them to soft.
  2. Shallow fry the coconut, cumin, red chillies, and the tuvar dal or red gram dal to light brown. Grind them to a smooth paste.
  3. Beat ¾ cup curd, add salt and mix well. Add the vegetables and the ground paste to the koottu and mix well.
  4. Boil for 2 to three  minutes , tills everything blends well.
  5.   Heat oil in a shallow pan, add mustard and blackgram dal ,  as the mustard splutters, add to the Koottu
  6. Serve with rice  and appalams .