Chow Chow kootu/Chayote kootu

Chow Chow kootu/Chayote kootu is a Iyengar special kootu prepared with Chow Chow, Spices and Coconut.


Ingredients:

• 2 Chow chow/Chayote (Skin peeled and chopped as cubes)
• 1/2 cup Moong dal
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
• A small piece Asafoetida/Hing
• 1 tbsp Curry powder
• 1 tsp Pepper Cumin powder
• 2 tbsp Grated coconut
• As per taste Salt

For Seasoning:

• 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp Urad adal
• A spring Curry leaves
• 2 tsp Ghee

Method:

1) Grind coconut, Curry powder and Pepper cumin powder to coarse mixture with out adding water and keep aside.

2) Wash and add 1/2 cup water, Chowchow, Turmeric powder, Hing, Salt to Moong dal. Pressure cook them for 1 whistle.

3) Add the ground mixture, salt to cooked chowchow, mix well and heat this kootu in medium flame till frothy.

4) Heat ghee in a kadai and add  Mustard seeds to crackle next add urad dal and fry till light brown. Add curry leaves and give a quick mix. Pour this seasoning mixture on kootu and mix well.

Tasty Chow chow kootu is ready.

Tips:

1) If you dont have curry powder and pepper cumin powders handy, take  following ingredients -2 tsp Channa dal, 1 tsp Urad dal, 1 tbsp Corriander seeds, 1 tsp Cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp Pepper, A small piece Hing, 1 Red chilli. Roast them in a kadai adding few drops of oil, cool them and grind to coarse powder.

2) When grinding, you can also add few coriander leaves for extra flavour.