Chow Chow Kootu
Ingredients
- Chow chow - 1
- Chana dal / Kadala parippu - 1/2 cup
- Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
- Salt - to taste
To grind
- Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
- Whole dry red chillies - 2
- Jeera / Cumin - 1/2 tsp
To temper
- Oil - 1 tsp
- Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
- Whole dry red chilly - 1 halved
- Curry leaves - few
Instructions
- Wash and scrap the skin of chow chow lighltly and cut into small cubes.
- Wash and soak the chana dal for 1 hour. Drain and add to a cooking vessel. Cook the chana dal by adding 1 cup water till half cooked.
- When the dal is half done, add the chow chow, turmeric powder, salt and mix well. Cook till the chow chow becomes soft and tender.
- Meanwhile grind the coconut, red chillies and jeera to a smooth and thick paste by adding little water.
- Add this ground paste to the chow chow and mix well. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- In a pan, heat oil and add mustard seeds. When it crackles, add red chilly and curry leaves. Pour over the kootu and mix.
Notes
- Instead of soaking and cooking chana dal in vessel, you can pressure cook the chana dal for 2 whistles and add once the chow chow is cooked.
- The chana dal should be cooked till becomes soft but not mushy.
- Do not add more water else the kootu will become watery.