Thursday, January 31, 2013

PEERKANGAI KOOTU|RIDGE GOURD KOOTU

Ridge gourd/Peerkangai/Chinese Okra is used in various South Indian dishes.I prepare kootu most often with this vegetable.The taste and flavor differs from the other kootu varieties.The skin can be be used for making Peerkangai Peel thuvayal


Peerkangai Kootu



Ingredients
Parangikai Chopped: 2 cups
Moong dhal: 1/4 cup
Urad dhal: 2 tsp
Red chillies: 2 or 3
Salt 3/4 tsp
Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
Grated coconut: 1.5 tablespoon

For tempering
Oil: 1 tsp
Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
Urad dhal: 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves: a sprig

Procedure:
1) Scrap the ridges of the ridge gourd and discard it
2) Peel the skin. The skin can be used to make thogayal
3) Cut the soft portion of the ridge gourd into small cubes
4) Cook in 1/2 cup of water along with little turmeric powder. Do not cook in pressure cooker.It will get easily mashed up.This vegetable is very soft and cooks quickly
5)Cook moong dhal , turmeric powder and asafoetida with enough water in pressure cooker
6) Meanwhile fry together urad dhal, red chillies and cumin seeds. Once it is fried add the coconut as well and fry for less than a minute
7) Grind it to powder
8) Add the ground powder to the moong dhal
9) Add the cooked ridge gourd and salt and mix well
11) Heat little oil and add mustard seeds. Once it starts spluttering add urad dhal and curry leaves and add this to the kootu


Notes:
Do not cook Peerkangai and moong dhal together as we do for other Kootu.The vegetable gets overcooked in pressure cooker


Step by Step pictures
Peerkangai Kootu
Peel the ridgegourd

Peerkangai Kootu
cut into cubes

Peerkangai Kootu
cook in a closed vessel with enough water

Peerkangai Kootu
Fry and grind the spices

Peerkangai Kootu
Cook the moong dhal and mix with ridge gourd

Peerkangai Kootu
Mix with ground spices


16 comments:

  1. Yummy kootu...
    http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Never had this ..something new to learn ...Love the serving bowl

    ReplyDelete
  3. delicious kootu and goes perfect with hot rice

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yummy kootu. I make this for chapathis

    ReplyDelete
  5. yummy and healthy kootu
    http://great-secret-of-life.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love kootu made with peerkangai.. Delicious and healthy..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Its been two years since my marriage, and I had tried every new recipe with every possible vegetable available in our Indian markets. However, one disaster dinner with Ridge Gourd and the poor veggie was soon forbidden in my household for almost a year and a half!!
    Today somehow I thought poor peerkangai deserved a second chance, and lo and behold... This recipe turned out to be such a hit with us last night, that it has become an instant favorite with both hubby and me!!
    Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Its been two years since my marriage, and I had tried every new recipe with every possible vegetable available in our Indian markets. However, one disaster dinner with Ridge Gourd and the poor veggie was soon forbidden in my household for almost a year and a half!!
    Today somehow I thought poor peerkangai deserved a second chance, and lo and behold... This recipe turned out to be such a hit with us last night, that it has become an instant favorite with both hubby and me!!
    Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete