Usually kootu is made with dal / paruppu. This chow chow kootu curry is different that there is no dal used. Its called as masala kootu or vaasanai kootu. The addition of fennel seeds (sombu) and spices gives this dish a wonderful aroma that its called as vaasanai (aroma) kootu. It tastes so delicious with rice. This dish is also good for digestion as fennel seeds aids in digestion. This is such a nice dish, a welcome change from the usual paruppu kootu.
Here is how to do Chettinad Chow Chow Masala Kootu.
Boil the peeled and diced chow chow / chayote squash in 2 cups of water until tender. Set aside. We call this vegetable as merakai in tamil.
Heat oil in a kadai and add in one cardamom, one clove and a very small piece of cinnamon. Add in 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds (sombu). Fry on low flame until lightly brown. Add in the onions, garlic and curry leaves and fry till the onions are soft and they are slowly starting to brown.
Add in the tomatoes and salt. Add in the turmeric powder, pepper powder, chilli powder and coriander powder. Fry for a good 5 minutes on medium flame until the tomatoes are nicely cooked. Once the tomatoes are cooked, add in the freshly shredded coconut and fry for 2-3 minutes. Remove off heat. Grind this mixture to a smooth paste in a blender / mixie. You can add up-to 2 cups of water while grinding. Grind it to a very fine paste. Set aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add in the fennel seeds, cumin seeds and a few sprigs of curry leaves. Let it splutter. Add in the ground paste and add water if the mixture is very thick. You can add more water if you want a thin gravy. I like my kootu thick. so add water to your taste and preference. Add in the cooked chow chow and let the mixture come to a boil. Don’t cook it for long. Just a boil is enough.
Once it just starts to boil, remove off heat and serve hot with rice.
- 2 medium sized chow chow, diced
- 2 teaspoon Oil
- 1 cardamom
- 1 clove
- 1 small tiny piece cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 2 medium sized onions
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 2 medium sized ripe tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 2 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ cup freshly shredded coconut
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 2 sprigs curry leaves
- Boil the diced chow chow / chayote squash in 2 cups of water until tender. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a kadai and add in one cardamom, one clove and a very small piece of cinnamon. Add in 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds (sombu). Fry on low flame until lightly brown. Add in the onions, garlic and curry leaves and fry till the onions are soft and they are slowly starting to brown.
- Add in the tomatoes and salt. Add in the turmeric powder, pepper powder, chilli powder and coriander powder. Fry for a good 5 minutes on medium flame until the tomatoes are nicely cooked. Once the tomatoes are cooked, add in the freshly shredded coconut and fry for 2-3 minutes. Remove off heat. Grind this mixture to a smooth paste in a blender / mixie. You can add up-to 2 cups of water while grinding. Grind it to a very fine paste. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan and add in the fennel seeds, cumin seeds and a few sprigs of curry leaves. Let it splutter. Add in the ground paste and add water if the mixture is very thick. Add in the cooked chow chow and let the mixture come to a boil.
- Remove off heat and serve hot with rice.
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