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Saturday, July 12, 2014

Keerai Kootu


Event: Blogging Marathon #42
Theme: South Indian meals 
Choice of state: Tamilnadu

Kootu, a comforting side dish from Tamilian kitchens is lentil and vegetable / greens based. This particular kootu is mild and tasty and needs no prior planning or preparation. It is simple in terms of preparation and is quick to put together. This keerai kootu is based on moong dal and spinach and was inspired from here.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup moong dal
2 cups chopped greens (I used spinach.)
1/8 tsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dal / skinned, split black gram
2 green chillies, finely chopped
A pinch of asafoetida powder
1 onion, chopped fine
1 tomato, chopped fine
1/4 cup shredded, fresh coconut
1 tsp rice flour
Salt to taste
Clockwise from left to right: Kootu, Eggplant curry, Mixed veggie sambhar, Rasam, Yogurt and Chayote curry

Method:
* Pressure cook moong dal adding spinach, turmeric and about 1/2 cup water. When the valve pressure is gone, remove the dal and mash it well with the backside of a ladle.
* Grind coconut and rice flour adding a little water.
* Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and black gram. When mustard seeds start to pop, add green chillies and asafoetida. Fry for about 20-30 seconds. 
* Next add onion and fry until translucent. And then add tomatoes and cook until they turn mushy.
* Now add the cooked dal, ground coconut paste and salt to the onion mixture. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, lower the heat and simmer for a couple of minutes. Turn off the stove and serve warm with rice.

Comments

10 comments:

vaishali sabnani said...

This is like the paalak daal that we make..the addition of coconut must be giving it a lovely flavour.
I like the whole thali ..looks so authentic.

Kalyani said...

that kootu and platter look so inviitng Suma :)

nandoos kitchen said...

nice tasty kootu. very tempting platter..

cookingwithsapana said...

Keerai Kootu looks like dal palak but more rich and tasty ! Lovely platter...

Srivalli said...

You have managed the thali so well suma, that I am seriously thinking should force you to take it up..:)..very nice and healthy kootu..

Priya Suresh said...

That thali is just irresistible, love this comforting kootu, i can have it even everyday with rice.

Unknown said...

Lovely kootu.. One of my favorite.

Sarita said...

kootu is nicely done...It is similar to spinach dal what i cook but only difference is coconut.Thali looks perfect.

Nisha said...

My most favourite dish and they look so inviting. Nice.

Harini R said...

The thali is so inviting! Love this version of kootu.