KEERAI KOOTU – KOOTU RECIPE

Keerai kootu is our family favourite kootu recipe.We make it at least once in a week.I make it for my husband’s lunch box paired with vatha kuzhambu/ puli kuzhambu.It tastes great.I learnt this recipe from my MIL. I’ll post my mom’s version soon..Usually vengaya vadagam is used for seasoning this kootu. I love that combination very much . But my husband hates it.. So I saute the small onions till dark brown ( as u see in picture) & season this kootu.It tastes equivalent to vadagam..My husband likes to have this kootu mixed with plain rice & ghee .. Try this healthy accompaniment for lunch & enjoy . We follow the same procedure and make kootu with mulai keerai , siru keerai  etc..

INGREDIENTS
1 cup - 250ml

Amaranthus/arai keerai – 2 small bunch OR 2 cups Moong dal – 2 tbsp Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp Sambar powder – 1 tsp salt & water – As needed To grind Grated coconut – 1/4 cup Rice flour –1  tsp To temper Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp Urad dal – 1 tsp Fenugreek seeds – 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds / jeera – 1/2 tsp Small onion – 5 nos or Big onion – 1/2 no  OR Vengaya vadagam – 1.5 tbsp or 1 no

METHOD

Wash & chop the keerai finely. In a pressure cooker base , take the chopped keerai , moong dal  , sambar powder , salt and water. Cook it for 1 –2 whistle in low flame. Grind the coconut with rice flour adding little water to make a smooth paste.Set aside. After the steam is released from the cooker , mash the mixture well till moong dal becomes mushy..Now add the coconut paste ,mix well and allow it to boil till kootu becomes semi thick in consistency.. In a kadai , temper all the ingredients given under” to temper” in the same order. Saute till onion turns dark golden brown with a nice smell..Add to the kootu .. Mix with plain rice & ghee  or enjoy as an accompaniment!

NOTE

My mil cooks the keerai  & dal separately and mix them .But  i pressure cook everything together. But make sure dal should be mushy. This kootu can be made with mulai keerai / thandu keerai and siru keerai .. Adding vengaya vadagam for seasoning gives a great taste. Do try if u have in hand..But u should saute it till dark brown in low flame and add to kootu..

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