Chow-Chow Kootu

This used to be my standard method of preparation for Chow Chow (Chayote Squash) before including Viji's Chow Chow Pitlai recently into our repertoire. We love this kootu at home and is very easy to make too. I like the bite that the channa dhal lends and the heat from the red chillies balances well with the slight sweetness that chow chow has.

CHOW CHOW KOOTU

Ingredients:

Chow Chow - 3 small or 2 large
Toor Dhal - 1/3 cup
Channa Dhal - 3 to 4 tbsp
Turmeric, a pinch
Salt, to taste

For Seasoning:
Oil - 1 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad Dhal - 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida - a pinch
Curry leaves - few

To Grind:
Dried Red Chillies - 5 or 6
Coconut - 2 to 3 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Method:

1) Pressure cook toor dhal and channa dhal together with sufficient water and a pinch of turmeric till soft.

2) Meanwhile, wash, peel and cube chow chow into half inch pieces (remove the white pith in the middle). Cook this with some water and salt in a pan (covered and on low flame) till done or microwave this.

3) Once chow-chow is cooked, add the cooked dhal and the ground paste of chillies+coconut+cumin seeds. Adjust salt. Once this boils, allow to simmer for abt 5 minutes (covered).

4) Heat oil separately and season with mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida & curry leaves. Add this to the kootu and mix. Serve with rice and vathal kuzhambu or even with rotis.

Comments

  1. Happy new year sweetie. See you next week, just came to wish you!:)

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  2. I have never experimented with chow chow but i am soon trying it.

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  3. yummy!!! New year wishes to you n ur family!!!

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  4. mmm...i love kootu..i do not know if jeeves will eat it tho..i will make it when he is out of town...take care girl..

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  5. I make this the same way and love it!:-)

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  6. Just yesterday, I had chow chow kootu out at lunch and I was thinking this would be a yummy thing to make and look here you are with the recipe...Looks very nice.

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  7. i am not much of a chow chow fan :) have a wonderful new year!

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  8. Yum! This always reminds me of my mum - she makes a killer chowchow koottu :)

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  9. Never have known what chow chow was....this one looks yumy..must try:)

    Happy new year to u and ur family

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  10. Laav,
    Haven't seen this veg. yet. Good looking curry, love to get some.
    Happy New year!

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  11. thanks for sharing new curry recipe lavanya and wish u a happy new year

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  12. Looks great Laav! Yummy Kootu, i love it! Rasam & Kootus.. perfect combo!

    Wishing you A & A a very Happy & Prosperous New Year.

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  13. If you use green chillies instead of red, the kootu remains white. Also, try adding 1/4 cup of curd just before serving. Creamy and delicious.

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  14. Thank you dear Asha! :)

    Pooja, do try it sometime.

    Thank you Ramya. My best wishes to your family too.

    Rajitha, how do you get by w/o making kootu? :)

    TBC, that's nice! It is the best... :)

    Kamini, hope you get a chance to try it sometime.

    Nags, oh.. that's a pity. Wishing you a fabulous New Year too.

    Kaykat, hope you can post that recipe soon.

    Bhags, the wikipedia link will show you pics. It's available easily in US and India.

    Seena, hope you can spot it sometime soon and give it a try. Happy New year to you too.

    Thank you Sagari. My best wishes to you too.

    For sure Seema. Thanks for your wishes. Will give you a call tom.

    Suganya, I've tried with g. chillies but we don't like it as much... so I use red chillies for all the watery vegs. like pudalangai kootu and pumpkin kootu.

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  15. thank you for visiting my blog lavanya, I shall try your sabudana vada soon :) it looks really savoury

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  16. That looks delicious! Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  17. hey Laavanya, Wish you a very Happy New Year!
    Best Wishes for 2008, sweetie!

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  18. Looks yummy! I too never tried kootu b4!

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  19. Valli, I hope you do give it a try and like it. Let me know.

    Happy New Year Dear Cynthia! Thanks so much for your wishes.

    Mandira, Thank you! Wishing you a wonderful New year ahead.

    Richa, Thanks!

    Raks, You must try this. Am sure you'll like it.

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  20. Hi lavanya , i made kootu today following your recipe and it has turned out very very yummy , thanks for the wonderful recipe.
    www.recipe-den.blogspot.com
    this is my blog do vsit nd leave your comments.
    Take care
    sabita

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  21. Sabita, I'm so happy to hear that you liked it. I make it quite often too. Will definitely hop on over to your blog. Thanks again for the feedback.. :)

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  22. Thanks a lot Laavanya for your comments and for visiting my blog.

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  23. I have been searching forever for a recipe that matched the taste I remembered from home. And this is it! I love this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing it.

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  24. Rk, thank you so much for your feedback - i really appreciate it! :)

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  25. Dear Laav, what are the odds? I had bought some chow chow and was wondering if I could manage to make some kootu out of it after all... And I googled "chow chow kootu" and guess whose recipe came up on top??!!! I'm thoroughly thrilled!! Will update you on how it turns out :)

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  26. Suman!! what a pleasant coincidence :) Hope you liked the kootu - let me know.

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  27. It came out really well! I'm thrilled even I can make kootu. Love your detailed step-by-step 'protocol' ;) I'm going to try out more of your recipes soon.

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  28. Of course you can make kootu - don't be so modest Suman :) So glad to hear it came out well - nothing quite like Sudhir's curd making 'protocol'.

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