Chow Chow Moong Dal Kootu is one of those delicious simple and easy to make, dish that can be paired so well with Steamed rice or even rotis. This is part of the Tamil Brahmin thalis and I have seen friends bringing this often along with rice. As part of the bigger thali, this is placed along with Sambar and poriyal.
Chow Chow is called Sheema Kathrika or Bangalore Kathrikka in Tamil and Telugu. It belongs to the squash family and is also called Chayote Squash. We mostly use this in Sambar, sometimes as Poriyal. I like it best as a Kootu. I have made other versions of Chow Chow Kootu, Chow Chow Kootu with Channa Dal, Chow Chow Kootu with Toor Dal, Chow Chow Sambar, and Chow Chow Halwa as well.
We starting a new Edition for February, BM#73 this week it is going to be Flavours of India, where I will be sharing some gems from the State of Tamil Nadu.
This was part of the Tamil Nadu Thali I cooked a while ago. The other dishes on the plate were the Pepper Fried Plantain Chips, Spring Onion Drumstick Sambar
Step By Step Pictures for making Chow Chow Moong Dal Kootu
Chow Chow Moong Dal Kootu
Chow Chow Moong Dal KootuTo be pressure cooked
1 cup Chayote / Chow Chow, chopped
1/2 cup Split Yellow Moong Dal
A Pinch of Turmeric powder
For the ground paste
1/2 cup Coconut, grated
4 nos Green Chillies
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
For Tempering
1 tsp Ghee
1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/2 tsp Urad Dal
Curry Leaves handful
Salt to Taste
For cooking the Chayote
Wash and peel the outer skin. Dice into 1 inch pieces.
Wash the moong dal and take in a pressure cooker along the diced chow chow. Add turmeric powder. Add 1/2 cup water.
Pressure cook for couple of whistles.
For the Ground paste
Take the grated coconut along with chopped green chillies, cumin seeds. Add enough water and grind to a smooth paste.
Making the Kootu
Once the pressure falls down, add this ground paste to the dal, along with salt and bring to a boil after adding required water.
Simmer for 5 mins.
Tempering
Heat a pan with ghee, temper with curry leaves, mustard seeds, urad dal. Pour this over the simmering kootu
Serve hot with steamed rice.
Chow Chow Moong Dal Kootu
Ingredients
To be pressure cooked
- 1 cup Chayote Chow Chow, chopped
- 1/2 cup Split Yellow Moong Dal
- A Pinch Turmeric powder
For the ground paste
- 1/2 cup Coconut grated
- 4 Green Chilies
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
For Tempering
- 1 tsp Ghee
- 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1/2 tsp Urad dal
- Curry Leaves handful
- Salt to taste
Instructions
For cooking the Chayote
- Wash and peel the outer skin. Dice into 1 inch pieces.
- Wash the moong dal and take in a pressure cooker along the diced chow chow. Add turmeric powder. Add 1/2 cup water.
- Pressure cook for couple of whistles.
For the Ground paste
- Take the grated coconut along with chopped green chilies, cumin seeds. Add enough water and grind to a smooth paste.
Making the Kootu
- Once the pressure falls down, add this ground paste to the dal, along with salt and bring to a boil after adding required water.
- Simmer for 5 mins.
Tempering
- Heat a pan with ghee, temper with curry leaves, mustard seeds, urad dal. Pour this over the simmering kootu
- Serve hot with steamed rice.
shobha says
Never tried kootu with moong dal.. I always use toor dal, Will try next time.
Vaishali Sabnani says
Chow chow is something that I have yet to taste, but after chopping it looks something like bottle gourd, wonder if it has a similar taste. The dish looks good and the thali of course is tempting.
Rajani says
I like chow chow chow kootu. I make t the same way as well.
Kalyani says
I LOVE chow chow, but its very expensive here... (yeah I know its a throwaway price during winters down south) .. this coot looks delicious- I make it in a slightly diff way with moong dal, but its delicious all the same 🙂
Sandhiya says
I like chow chow kootu. Mostly i prepare without coconut. Love the idea of adding coconut paste.
Pavani says
That is such a delicious kootu with chow chow Valli. Love that coconut paste in there.
@chefmireille says
this is one of my fave veggies and this bowl looks perfect to enjoy on a cold winter night
Harini-Jaya R says
My mom makes it a little differently but this sounds just as divine to me 🙂
Priya Suresh says
My kind of kootu, love this chowchow in kootu served along with some hot piping rice and spicy potato roast, mouthwatering already.
Gayathri Kumar says
I am the only person who like chow chow in my house. This kootu looks perfect to have with rice..
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Kootus are my go to comfort food and I love chow chow kootu. All I need is some steaming hot rice and paruppu 🙂
Simply Tadka says
Chow Chow is quite new for me... for healthy recipes, its a perfect option.
Amara says
Experimented couple dishes with Chow Chow recently but this kootu looks delicious.
Priya Srinivasan says
Kootu's are everyday menu at home valli. Love chow chow kootu, recently we started getting veggies from tanjore here, from that time, chow-chow is regular at home.
Thali looks delicious, that pepper-fried plantain chips, looks very tempting!! 🙂
PJ says
Delicious spread you have there Srivalli! And chow chow kootu is a regualr affair at home and one of kiddos fav too.