Snake Gourd Kootu Recipe | Pudalangai kootu | Snake Gourd Recipes

Snake Gourd Kootu recipe, yet again a traditional dish that is served with rice for lunch or dinner. I am sharing a South Indian Pudalangai Kootu recipe which is cooked once a week in our house.

Snake Gourd Kootu Recipe, Pudalangai Kootu Recipe, Kadalebe Kootu, Snake Gourd Recipes

Pudalankai kootu, is a simple dish made of kadalebele and veggies cooked in coconut gravy. Kootu can be cooked in many ways - coconut is ground to paste with Jeera, to keep it bland or coriander seeds, to keep it spicy. Here I am using cloves and cinnamon to give a warm and flavorful punch to the dish. Chana dal or kadalebele (in kannada) along with snake gourd and freshly grounded coconut are cooked well to get this spicy Snake Gourd Kootu.

Snake Gourd Kootu Recipe, Kadalebele Kootu, Pudalangai Kootu Recipe, Snake Gourd Recipes

Kootu recipes are good with watery vegetables like Seeme badhanekai (kannada) / Chayote Squash, Sorekayi/ Lauki/ Bottle gourd, White Pumpkin or even with Cabbage. Hot rice with ghee and kootu would be a best combination along with pappad and pickle. Try this spicy Pudalangai Kootu this method once to enjoy the authentic flavor.

Ingredients

Chana dal/ Kadalebele – 1 cup

Snake Gourd – 1 small, cut into rings

Onion – 1 small, finely chopped

Tomato – 1 small, chopped

Curry leaves – 1 strand

Oil – 1 teaspoon

Snake Gourd Kootu Recipe, Snake Gourd Ring cut

For Grinding

Onion small – 1 roughly cut

Chilli powder – 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder -1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Cloves – 4

Cinnamon – 2

Fresh Coconut – 1/2 cup grated

Method for grinding

Heat a sauce pan add 1/2 teaspoon oil , fry roughly cut onions until onions turn golden brown

Add chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder and remove from the heat, to avoid burning of dry powders

Cool this and grind to fine paste adding coconut, cloves and cinnamon and water about 1/4 cup or as per required

Method

Wash and cook chana dal with 3 cups of water in pressure cooker for 2 whistles or until dal is cooked and grain should look whole, not mushy.

Cut the snake gourd to rings as shown in picture, keep it to bigger sizes as this vegetable gets cooked soon.

Heat a thick bottom pan to make the gravy, add 1 teaspoon oil.

Add mustard let this splutter, then add curry leaves, onions chopped finely and snake gourd cut into rings

Sauté for 3 minutes

Add cooked chana dal and ground coconut masala and tomatoes chopped

Add in water to required consistency and add salt.

Check for the spice and salt, add if required to match the taste

Cook until snake gourd is tender and soft.

Switch Off the flame and cover the lid and rest it for few more minutes, this enhance the flavor

Yes! Spicy Snake Gourd Kootu / Pudalangai Kootu is ready to be served with hot rice and ghee.

Note:

Chana dal is baby chickpeas that has been split and polished
Any Gravy - given rest for 5 to 10 minutes in the same pot after cooking and then served, enhances the flavor of gravy.