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    Home » Main Course » Kootu

    Chow Chow Kootu | Chayote Stew

    by Nisha

    Thali, (meaning "Plate" in Hindi) according to wiki, is a selection of various dishes on a plate. It is a characteristic representation of regional dishes. Every region has its own unique menu to showcase and the best way to portray this is in a wedding. A South Indian thali consists of rice, dahl, sambhar, rasam, ghee, payasam, pickle, pachidi, kari (veggie side), koootu, vadam and chips and some sweet and it is served on a lengthy banana leaf.  Among this, Kootu constitutes an important side in a Thali. It is a mixture of veggies in a dahl - coconut paste. Today's recipe is the most popular version. 
    Chow Chow Kootu

    Chow Chow Kootu

    Chow Chow Kootu | Chayote Stew

    A popular south Indian veggie cooked in dahl and cumin-coconut paste.

    Prep Time: 10 Mins | Cook Time: 15 Mins | Total Time: 25 Mins | Serves: 2-3 as a side

    Ingredients

    • 2 Medium sized Chow Chow | Chayote, peeled and diced
    • 2 tablespoon Channa Dal
    • ¼ Cup  Pasi Parupu | Moong Dal
    To Grind
    • ¼ Cup Coconut
    • 2-3 Red Chillies
    • ¼ teaspoon Cumin seeds (1)
    Tempering
    • 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
    • 1 teaspoon Kadugu | Mustard seeds
    • 1 tablespoon Kadalai Parupu | Channa Dal
    • ½ tablespoon Ulundu | Urad dal
    • 3-4 Karivepilai | Curry leaves
    • ¼ teaspoon Perungayam | Asafoetida
    Instructions

    1. Pressure cook the dal until it is soft and slightly mushy.
    2. In a Kadai, add ~ 1 Cup of water and channa dal and cook until it becomes slightly soft. Then add the diced chayote and some more water and little salt. (2)
    3. Cover and cook until it is soft and tender. The veggie should hold its shape.
    4. Once it is coked, add the ground coconut paste and the cooked moong dahl. Stir well and let it boil for about 5 minutes. Check for salt and adjust. 
    5. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, add coconut oil. Once it is hot, add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Then add the channa dahl, urad dahl, curry leaves, red chillies and asafoetida resp. 
    6. Pour this over the kootu and garnish with coriander leaves at the end and turn off the flame. 

    Notes

    1. While adding cumin seeds be careful of overdoing it. A little goes the long way is very appropriate for this midget seed. When you add a little extra, it might taste bitter. 
    2. Also the chayote squash should not be over cooked. It should hold its shape and also be soft to bite. 

    This post is for Blogging Marathon 42 under the theme "South Indian Dishes". Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 42 here. 

    « Cabbage Channa Dal Tikki - Light Snacks
    Pasalai (Spinach) Keerai Poricha Kootu »

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    Recipe categories

    • Breakfast
    • Snacks
    • Indian Main Course Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Accompaniments

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Harini-Jaya R says

      July 30, 2014 at 12:01 pm

      Lovely clicks for the humble kootu!

      Reply
    2. Usha says

      July 29, 2014 at 4:04 pm

      Such a comforting side dish.

      Reply
    3. Varadas Kitchen says

      July 25, 2014 at 1:18 pm

      Interesting combination of channa dal and chayote. Looks very good.

      Reply
    4. Priya Suresh says

      July 25, 2014 at 10:03 am

      Wat a comforting food, serve me with papad, a royal treat for me definitely.

      Reply
    5. Ramya Venkateswaran says

      July 25, 2014 at 8:54 am

      my favorite kootu

      Reply
    6. Srivalli says

      July 25, 2014 at 4:50 am

      Only after blogging that I got interested in our Kootus..it has now become such an integral part of our cooking..lovely clicks..

      Reply

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