Chow Chow/ Chayote Kootu

Chayote has so many names. Its called as Chow chow, Bangalore Kathrika.. I don't why its called as Banaglore brinjal..maybe the produce must be more i guess. They even make this as a curry but i prefer its as Kootu.

Chow-chow/Chayote Kootu

A closer look of the spices!

Ingredients
1. Chow chow - 2
2. Toor dal - 3/4 cup ( Cup measurement is 236 ml)
3. Channa dal - 1 fistful
4. Turmeric - a pinch
5. salt - to taste


To Grind
1. Urad dal - 2 tbsp
2. Pepper corns - 1/2 tsp
3. Red Chillies -  2-3
4. Hing - a pinch
5 Coconut - 2-3 tbsp


To temper
1. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
2. Curry leaves - a small sprig


Preparation Time!!
1.Take channa dal and toor dal in a vessel and pressure cook it for 4 whistle. keep aside
2.Peel Chow chow and cut into half, remove the white seedy part and the chop into small fine cubes
3. Pressure cook this with enough water to cover the Chow chow for one whistle
4. Transfer the chow chow to a wok along with the water and let it simmer on medium flame. Be careful while transferring, as the mixture is already hot. Add turmeric 
5. Meanwhile, when the veggie is being pressure cook, take a pan, add 1 tsp of oil, then add the ingredients in the to grind to list except coconut and sauté till they turn light brown
6. Wet grind this mixture along with coconut to a fine paste. Keep aside
7. Now, paste is ready, chow chow is in pan on medium flame and the lentils are also pressure cooked. Drain the water in lentils.( don't dispose it, you could use the paruppu thani for rasam or if kootu becomes thick too) and mash it. Add lentils to chow chow
8. Mix well, add salt and then add wet grind mixture too and let it simmer of about 6-7 minutes
9. Follow this with tempering with ingredients in temple table and serve hot with rice and ghee


Kootu is a nutritious and filling dish and tastes good with chapati too! Rasam rice and kootu is also a great combo :)..


Serving - 3-4 people
Duration - 45 min ( Cooking dals increases duration)