Sorakkai Kootu | Bottle Gourd Kootu

Kootu is a South Indian stew with vegetables and lentils simmered in a coconut base. Kootu is made with either chana dal or moong dal with vegetables like pumpkin, bottlegourd, chow chow, cabbage, spinach etc. Kootu makes a very healthy and light meal. Usually kootu is served as a side dish to rice, but it goes well with chapathi too.

Sorakkai kootu can be prepared either with chana dal (kadalai paruppu) or moong dal (paasi paruppu). Here I have made the kootu with yellow moong dal. You can cook the vegetable and lentil directly in a vessel, but pressure cooking is an easier method and saves time. Serve kootu with hot rice and any vegetable stir fry. I served the kootu with seppankizhangu roast for lunch and had the leftover with chapathi for dinner.

Sorakkai Kootu

Bottlegourd and lentil simmered in a coconut, red chilly and cumin base

Print Pin Recipe

Servings 4

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

• 1 medium bottlegourd / sorakkai / lauki
• ½ cup yellow moong dal / paasi paruppu
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• Salt to taste

To grind

• ½ cup grated coconut
• 2 dry red chillies
• 1 tsp cumin seeds / jeera
• 1 tsp rice flour

To temper

• 1 tsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp split urad dal
• 2 dry red chillies
• 1 sprig curry leaves

Instructions

• Peel the skin of bottlegourd. Scoop out the middle white part and seeds. Chop them into small cubes and transfer to a vessel.
• Add washed moong dal, turmeric powder and enough water. Pressure cook for 1 whistle.
• Meanwhile grind the coconut, red chillies, jeera and rice flour to a smooth paste adding little water.
• Add the ground paste, salt to the bottlegourd- dal mixture and mix well. Simmer for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
• In a small pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds, When it splutters, add red chillies, curry leaves and pour into the kootu.

Notes

• Instead of pressure cooking, you can cook the bottle gourd and dal together directly in a vessel. It will take around 15-20 minutes.
• Kootu has a thick consistency, so add water just enough to immerse the bottlegourd and dal.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: Kootu Recipes, Side Dish for Rice