First, pressure cook the chana dal for 3 whistles with 1 cup of water and other ingredients under “To Cook Dal”. Once done mash slightly; do not mash to a smooth paste. You need to feel the dal in each bite of the kootu.
While the Dal is cooking, Heat a pan with oil, add the mustard and let it splutter and then add all other ingredients under “To Temper” one by one in given order. Followed by curry leaves and onion and saute till the onion color changes to translucent.
Now add the tomato and salt, then saute till the tomato turns mushy. Follow it up with ridge gourd (Peel the skin of ridge gourd and cut into small cubes) and saute for 1 minute.
Then add sambar powder, turmeric powder and 1 ½ cups of water, mix thoroughly and bring it to a boil and then reduce the flame to medium.
Once the ridge gourd gets ¾ cooked add the half mashed dal and mix thoroughly and cook till the ridge gourd is cooked fully. Turn off the flame.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or chapati .
Notes | FAQ
- While adding dal the gravy becomes thick. If you feel your gravy is too thick, you can add ½ cup of water, bring to a boil and switch off the flame.- In case your gravy is too thin, cook in high flame, stirring at regular intervals till you get your desired consistency.