Showing posts with label Koot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Koot. Show all posts

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Ridge Gourd - Bottle Gourd Kootu

Kootu is nothing but a type of curry which is mild spicy. I have tried Ridge gourd and bottle gourd combination.  Kootu has turned very yummy and it goes well with all most all main dishes.


Ridge gourd and the bottle gourd were used as veggies and little coconut, channa dal and red chilly with little ingh and curry leaves. I remembered Mrs. Nagamani Prasad very much because she used to prepare this Kootu very often. I have seen her preparing this kootu curry and eaten as well. She is one of the good cook whom I have come across. I have learnt to cook by seeing her and Mrs. Prema Sundareshan. It is always a pleasure to eat and enjoy whatever they cooked.
Let us see some benefits of eating Channa dal in our diet.
Split bengal dal/channa dal is full of nutritious, high in fiber and easily digested. It helps to lower the cholesterol level in our body. It has very low fat. It has good amount of iron, sodium, selenium and small amount of copper, zinc and manganese. They do have folic acid and fiber. It has antioxidant properties. Channa dal is good for diabetes and helps to control the sugar levels. Channa dal has rich source of iron and good for people who are suffering from anemia.
Let us see the recipe Now:
This is one of the traditional dish of Mysorians (Ayyangaris) and has No Onion or No Garlic in it.

Ingredients :

To Cook :
Bottle Gourd : 1 Bowl (1/2 of medium size bottle gourd).
Ridge Gourd : 1

To Fry/roast  : Spices.
Channa Dal : 1 Tablespoon
Red Chilly : 4 to 5 (Byadagi)
Pepper Pods : 3 to 4
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Ingh/Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 6 to 8

To grind :
Coconut : 2 to 3 Tablespoons (Fresh and grated)
Fried or roasted spices.

To Add :
Salt : As required
Coriander Leaves.

Seasoning :
Groundnut Oil : 1 Teaspoon
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Channa dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Ingh/ Asafoetida : A little
Curry Leaves : 2 to 3 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Wash and remove the edges of ridge gourd and wash it again. Remove the outer layer and cut ridge gourd into small pieces. (Outer layer can be used for chutney).
2. Wash and remove the outer layer of bottle gourd and cut into small pieces.
3. Cook both the veggies with required water till soft.


4. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add a spoon of oil and fry methi seeds, urid dal till golden brown.
 Add channa dal and red chilly.(Byadagi menasu).
5. Let channa dal turn golden brown. Add pepper pods, Red chilly and mix it well. Put off the fire. Add curry leaves and ingh.
6. Grate coconut and grind it with fried methi seeds, urid dal, channa dal, pepper pods and red chilly mixture.


7. Keep a big pan on the fire. Add cooked vegetables (ridge gourd and bottle gourd).
8. Add salt and little turmeric powder. Mix it well. Let it boil nicely.
9. Add ground coconut mixture and mix it nicely. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes.


10. Shift the ready Kootu to a serving dish.

11. Keep a pan and heat. Add oil and mustard seeds, urid dal and channa dal. Let mustard seeds splutter.
12. Add curry leaves and ingh/Asafoetida. Put off the fire and add the seasoning to the ready curry.
13. Add cut coriander leaves and a spoon of ghee.

14. Ridge Gourd -Bottle gourd Kootu is ready to serve.

Note :

Do not over cook the veggies. Let it be soft. Adding tamarind or lemon to Kootu/Curry is optional.
Normally Kootu has mild spice and do not need any tangy/tamarind or lemon. Use of any cooking oil is optional. I have added a teaspoon of ghee just before serving. Adding ingh helps to digest the food easily and reduces the gastric content.
Time : 20 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4 .

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Raw Banana Kootu ( Plantain Curry)

Raw Banana Kootu is a gravy dish and we can have them with rice, chapati, roti, idli and even dosas. Raw banana is used in many curries and koftas and it is one of the favourite vegetable for many people in South India.

Lets see some benefits of Raw Banana.
Raw Bananas or Plantain is a carbohydrate source. It contain a high amount of resistant starch. The green bananas may reduce the risk of diabetes and helping to lower blood cholesterol levels. Green Bananas are good source of fiber. It keeps your stomach full for a long time. It contain low fat. Plantains contain Vitamin C.
Here is a recipe of Raw Banana (Plantain) Kootu which is very easy to cooked with mild spices and will be liked by all age group.
No Onion or No garlic added in this Kootu Curry. It is one of the traditional dish of Iyengaris. ( Combination of pepper pods and Jeera are good for digestion and helps to digest the food easily).

Things Needed : 


To Cook :
Raw Banana (Curry Banana) : 2
Tomatoes : 2
Toor Dal : 1/4 Cup
To Dry roast or fry :
Jeera : 1 Tea spoon
Pepper pods (whole pepper) : 6 to 8
Methi Seeds : 1/4 Tea spoon
To Season :
Oil : 2 Teaspoons
Ingh : a pinch
Mustard Seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
To grind :
Coconut : 1/2 Cup
Roasted spices
To Add :
Salt : according to taste
Water : Required water
Coriander Leaves : 1 Table spoon
Green chilly : 2
Turmeric Powder : a pinch. (less than 1/4 tea spoon)


Method :

1. Wash and remove the outer skin of the Plantain and cut it into small pieces (according to your wish) and put it in water).

2. Wash and cut coriander leaves, tomatoes and grate coconut.
3. Wash and cook dal in a pressure cooker and leave it for cooling.
4. Now keep a pan and put 1 spoon of oil. Put methi seeds and fry them nicely till they turn brown.
5. Add jeera and pepper pods and ingh to it. Add curry leaves , green chilly and put off the fire.

6. Now add coconut to the fried mixture and grind nicely using little water.
7. Remove the ground mixture and keep it aside.
8. Keep a big pan on the fire and put remaining oil. Put mustard seeds. Let it splutter.
9. Add 5 to 6 curry leaves and fry. Add little ingh and Cut banana. Mix it well.
10. Add water and cook till they turn soft.( 2 to 3 minutes). Add cut tomatoes.

11. Add cooked dal and salt. Add turmeric powder. Mix it well.

12. Add required water and mix it well. Let it cook for 2 minutes.
13. Now add groud coconut - spice mixture and mix it well.

14.  Let the Kootu boil nicely for 2 minutes.
15. Put off the fire and shift kootu to a serving dish.
16. Add coriander leaves and mix it well and serve with the main dish you prepared.

 Note :

Do not cook Plantain too soft. It may smash in the curry and you may not be able to  get the vegetable. Adding more spice, chilly is an optional.
Adding onions and garlic is also optional. You can add lemon juice (lemon extract) to the curry to give a tangy taste. (1 lemon).
Adding dal is also an optional. Use more coconut if you are not using dal to get a thick curry.
Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 5.

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My name is Nalini Somayaji. Teaching is my profession. Cooking is my passion. Reading, travelling, visiting new places, having fun with kids are some of the hobbies I can say. My recipes are Healthy, quick, easy and simple. Grown up being a traditional family member I love and respect Indian culture and traditions. Love classical dance and music.
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