This is a typical South Indian (Tamil Brahmin) recipe. I prepare ash gourd ( poosanikai) kootu in many ways, today I am sharing the one I prepare using tamarind called poosanikai puli kootu. This is very common in my home and goes well as a side dish with rice and chapati. It is easy on the digestive system and requires just 1-2 tsp of oil. It is great for those looking to reduce weight. Ash gourd also known as winter melon is very low in calories and is used to treat obesity. So what are you waiting for- try this simple and delicious poosanikai kootu and enjoy it with rice or roti.

Ashgourd Kootu-Poosanikai Puli Kootu

Prep Time : 10 mins
Cook Time : 20 mins
Serves: 4
Recipe Category: Side Dish-Kootu
Recipe Cuisine: Tamil Brahmin
Author:Padhu Sankar
Ingredients needed
Ash Gourd (white pumpkin) - 2 cups chopped
Tur dal - 1/4 cup
Tamarind - small gooseberry sized ball
Brown or white Chick peas (channa/garbanzo beans) - 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Salt as required
Roast and grind
Bengal gram/kadalai paruppu - 1 tbsp
Coriander seeds/ malli -1 tbsp
Dried Red chilli -3
Raw rice - 1 tsp
Grated Coconut - 2 tbsp
For the seasoning
Oil -1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Hing/asafoetida - a pinch
Curry leaves - a sprig
Serves: 4
Recipe Category: Side Dish-Kootu
Recipe Cuisine: Tamil Brahmin
Author:Padhu Sankar
Ingredients needed
Ash Gourd (white pumpkin) - 2 cups chopped
Tur dal - 1/4 cup
Tamarind - small gooseberry sized ball
Brown or white Chick peas (channa/garbanzo beans) - 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Salt as required
Roast and grind
Bengal gram/kadalai paruppu - 1 tbsp
Coriander seeds/ malli -1 tbsp
Dried Red chilli -3
Raw rice - 1 tsp
Grated Coconut - 2 tbsp
For the seasoning
Oil -1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Hing/asafoetida - a pinch
Curry leaves - a sprig
Preparation
Wash, peel the skin and chop pumpkin into cubes. Cook it in a little water until soft.
Soak tamarind in 1/2 cup of water and extract its juic and discard the pulp.
Pressure cook tur dal with a pinch of turmeric powder. Mash it and keep it aside.
If using dried chick peas, soak it overnight and pressure cook with a little salt and keep it aside. (I usually keep chickpeas in a small cup/vessel along with tur dal and pressure cook to save time.)
Heat 1/2 tsp of oil and roast bengal gram, coriander seeds, red chilli and raw rice until dal turns golden brown. Then add grated coconut and saute for a few more minutes. Remove from heat and leave it to cool. Then grind it to a fine paste and keep it aside.

Method
Heat oil, add mustard seeds, hing and curry leaves. When mustard seeds splutters, add the cooked pumpkin pieces.
Add tamarind water, salt and a pinch of turmeric powder.
Boil for sometime till the raw smell of the tamarind goes, then add the ground paste, cooked tur dal and cooked chick peas.
Simmer and cook for a 4-5 minutes or until it thickens slightly. Check for salt. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or chapati.
Ladies finger kootu (vendakkai kootu)
Plantain flower Puli kootu
Snake gourd kootu- Pudalangai poricha kootu
Keerai Kootu
Sorakkai kootu
Vazhaithandu Mor kootu
Chow chow kootu
Check out more Poriyal-Kootu Varieties
Meet you all again with more interesting recipes, until then it is bye from Padhu of Padhuskitchen
I made white pumpkin majjige huli today....urs look yumm too
ReplyDeletewow koottu cuury looking gud....
ReplyDeleteYumm, wat a super inviting kootu,delicious!
ReplyDeleteKootu looks delicious...lovely presentation...
ReplyDeleteThis look good and nice.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...Love it...
ReplyDeletemy all time fav.
ReplyDeleteThis is my fav too...
ReplyDeleteRecipe is new to me.. will try this out sometime.. loved your decoration...
ReplyDeleteLovely delicious kootu, lovely clicks.
ReplyDeleteDelicious koottu,i love this recipe.Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKootu looks so yummy,thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletewe also make this in my in laws place on all festival days.very nicely presented too
ReplyDeleteDelicious kootu and very nice presentation...
ReplyDeleteYum yum...looks delicious...
ReplyDeleteMy fav kootu...This is very delicious...
ReplyDeleteSabzi looks great and yummy!
ReplyDeleteKootu looks so yum... Havent tried this way but sure will give it a go...
ReplyDeleteAshgourd kootu looks awesome delicious.
ReplyDeleteTasty kootu and love the masala!
ReplyDeleteThis kootu looks so delicious and wonderful !!
ReplyDeleteKootu looks nice! Those ash gourd flowers are pretty!:)
ReplyDeleteDelicious kootu!!!! Very well presented!!
ReplyDeletePrathima Rao
Prats Corner
This sounds wonderful. Lovely presentation!
ReplyDeleteThe recipe looks very delicious. U have presented it so well.
ReplyDeleteoh those cute pots how do find all those cute stuffs!:)
ReplyDeleteA big wow for the poosanikai flower
ReplyDeletemade this today. came out well. simple, easy to cook and tasty. a surprise to my wife before she woke up today. thanks padhuskitchen
ReplyDelete- inigo fernando
Hi Padhu, made this kootu with a twist. added cumin seeds while roasting bengal gram dal and coconut. Loved the taste and my in-laws enjoyed it. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. So far ur recipes never failed me. :-)
ReplyDelete