Podalanga Kootu

Kootu is really easy to make, especially in a Ninja Foodi. It is a quintessential Tamil food and I enjoyed learning to make it. I got a snake gourd from my grandmother’s garden in College Station. I had a lot of fun making this recipe and thought I’d share it with you!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped snake gourd
• 1/8 cup masoor dal
• 1/8 cup moong dal
• 1/8 tsp turmeric powder
• salt (to taste)

To Roast and Grind

• 1 1/2 tbsp grated coconut
• 3/8 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/8 tsp peppercorns
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
• 3/4 tsp chana dal
• 1/2 a dried chili
• 6 to 7 curry leaves (fresh from our garden)
• 1 tsp canola oil

Tadka

• 1/2 tsp canola oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
• 1 pinch asafoetida

Directions:

1. Wash the moong and masoor dal and soak them in 1 cup water. Add the turmeric and salt.
2. Power on the saute mode on medium heat in the Ninja Foodi. Next, add 1 tsp oil and add all the ingredients mentioned under “to roast and grind” and saute until the lentils start turning golden.
3. Remove from the Foodi and set aside to cool. When cool enough, grind the ingredients with a little water to form a thick paste.
4. Add 1/2 tsp oil to the pot and add all the ingredients for the tadka. Let the mustard seeds pop. Keep the saute mode on high.
5. Now add the chopped vegetable, soaked lentils along with water, 1 cup water. Switch off the saute mode.
6. Add the ground paste to the Ninja Foodi and close the lid. Pressure cook at high for 7 minutes. Wait for the pressure to release.
7. Enjoy!

This stew tastes best with hot rice and ghee. You can also enjoy it with chapati. Any kind of squash or gourd can be used instead of podalanga.