Surakkai kootu

I always make the version without ground paste. I made this few weeks back and we all loved this arachuvitta kootu ( ground kootu ).

Ingredients :

Surakkai / bottle gourd/lauki - 1 medium size

Moong dal - 1/8 cup heaped

Turmeric - little

To grind :

Coconut grated - 1/4 cup 

Red chilly - 3

Pepper corns - 15

Rice flour - 1 tsp

Jeera - 1/2 tsp 

To temper :

Jeera - 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves - few

Oil - 1 tsp.

Method :

Make a raw paste of all the ingredients under 'to grind' into a fine paste with needed water.

Pressure cook bottle gourd, dhal, turmeric with salt and water ( 1.5 cups) for 1 or 2 whistles.

Make sure the vegetable is not overlooked and it should retain its shape.

Once pressure is released, add the ground paste and let it cook for 4 to 5 min in low flame .

In a small heat a tsp of oil or ghee, once hot add the jeera and curry leaves. Pour then on top of the cooked kootu.

Serve hit with rice !