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peerkangai kootu

Peerkangai Kootu

Revathi Palani
Peerkangai Kootu is a healthy South Indian side made with chana dal and peerkangai. Perfect as a side for rice or chapati.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium Ridge gourd
  • 1 medium Onion
  • 1 medium Tomato
  • 1 sprig Curry leaf
  • Coriander leaves - For garnishing
  • ¼ tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp Sambar powder
  • ½ tsp Salt (adjust as per taste)

To Temper

  • 1 tsp Oil
  • ¼ tsp Mustard seeds
  • ¼ tsp Jeera
  • ½ tsp Broken Urad Dal
  • 2 Dry Red chilli

To Cook Dal

  • ½ Cup Kadalai parupu/ Chana Dal
  • 5 cloves Garlic
  • ¼ tsp Asafoetida
  • ¼ tsp Turmeric

Instructions
 

  • 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.

    kootu 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.

    kootu kootu
  • 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.

    kootu kootu
  • 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.

    kootu kootu
  • 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.

    kootu kootu
  • 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.