Bottle gourd & dhal ( Surraikai poritha kootu)

The bottle gourd (surraikai) never visited my mom’s kitchen. Yes, she never cooked this vegetable and we didn’t get any chance to taste it for so many years.
Coming to US, I noticed many people grabbing this bottle shape gourd in the store. I decided to give a try out the new vegetable and curious to know how it tastes, brought it one day.
The least recipe, I had in mind is to make kootu. Kootu is a traditional Tamilian recipe. Channa dhal or moong dhal combined with any vegetables and seasoned with some spices. The gravy has a thick consistency not like sambar.
There are many ways to make kootu but this poritha kootu is only prepared with one vegetable, no onion nor garlic. Great recipe for any festive time, even for my lazy days. I am sending this recipe for VOW- bottle gourd hosted by Pooja.



 
Bottle gourd Poritha Kootu

*Ingredients:

Channa Dhal/Bengal gram: 1 cup
Bottle gourd (small size): one - diced
Salt: per your taste

*Roast & grind:

Dry red chilis: 6 num less or more
Cumin: 1 tsp
Urad dhal: 1tsp
Coconut: 1/4 cup (Do not roast)

*Seasonning:

Oil: 1 tsp
Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
Curry leaves: few leaves

*Method to prepare:

Cook the channa dhal in pressure cooker, leave 4 whistles.
Dry roast all the ingredients except coconut and grind with coconut.
Add the ground paste and bottle gourd to dhal, adjust the salt and leave for an another whistle sound in pressure cooker.
Now, add the seasonning and serve with rice or rotis.

Note: Any vegetable can be used like: cabbage, any gourd type vegetable like ridge gourd, snake gourd,...

EC & JZ passed friendly the Friendship award. Thank you so much gals.

Comments

Madhavi said…
Hey Cham, this looks awesome dear, photo is very tempting too. Nice recipe, thanxxx for sharing!!!
Uma said…
wow, beautiful presentation. The kootu looks so delicious and inviting Cham! Congrats on the awards.
Medhaa said…
Cham, Love the picture, we too make a dish in chana dal but put turai instead, but my mom puts bottle gourd sometimes. We do not add coconut though. Will try your way sometime.
Laavanya said…
Poricha kootu can liven up any vegetable.. Kootu looks beautiful and what a pretty presentation Cham.
mitr_bayarea said…
Cham-

I too use similar recipe for my surraikai kootu. Good one, as always.
bha said…
the rice topped with kootu looks all yummy
Dori said…
Hmmmm, maybe I will have to pick up a bottle gourd and try this... Looks yummy!
Sum Raj said…
v have also not yet tried this bottle gourd cham...i did not find this in US also...i am curious to know wht it taste like?...ur curry looks delicious...
kamala said…
The kootu looks so delicoius Cham..same pinch....Congrats on ur awards!!!
Kalai said…
Love poricha kootu!! Sounds and looks delicious, Cham. :)
Sujatha said…
Surakkai kootu looks awesome, dear Cham! This is my comfort food and will enjoy it with sambar rice or vatha kulambu and rice.. :) Looks delicious!
Richa said…
chana dal & dudhi blend so well together, every region has a twist for this pair :) Looks very good!
Also liked ur kebabs, i too grow mint and the flavor of fresh mint is oh-so-good!!
Indian Khana said…
Hey Cham Kootu looks so delicious..very nice pic and recipe...
ST said…
The kootu looks mouthwatering and inviting.......Congrats on ur awards....
Swati said…
Cham, this is made very frequently at our place..channe-lauki ki dal..
Yours looks very delicious with the coconut ..
vandana rajesh said…
delicious bootle gourd cham.will definitely give it a try.
Illatharasi said…
I too do the same way ... love this kootu! Picture is perfect!!!
Deepthi Shankar said…
yummy kootu ... havent made kootu using bottle gourd .. will try it
Unknown said…
Looks YUM cham..I make kootu with bottle gourd but without roasting the coconut and other ingredients.This is a comfort food.
About coriander shrimp, yeap it was bit cripy.It was a unique recipe and came out so well.
Pooja said…
the kootu looks like corwn on the rice :) . thank you dear cham for sending thislong for Vow bottle gourd :) .
Anonymous said…
Koottu made with channa dhal alone.Good seems to be delicious.will give a try.surakkai is good for health.In India this veg has become popular now.Surakkai sambar also will be very tasty
ranji said…
soo yumm..very simple dish made so attractive...love it cham ..good entry :)
Vaishali said…
Simple and delicious recipe, Cham. I love bottle gourd so have to try this.
i am a complete novice with veggies like these. great entry Cham!! :-)
Vani said…
Looks yum, Cham! Lauki & dal is a fab combi!
Sunshinemom said…
My Mom would have done the same, but Dad is quite fond of lauki, and we had in various forms mainly because Mom tried to mask its taste;) Lovely poricha kootu - we add a few more things but I love it anyway:)
Unknown said…
Sounds delicious and easy to make too. Will definitely give this a try. - Rekha