Chow Chow Kootu | Chayote Kootu Recipe | Chow Chow with Dal

Chow Chow / Chayote is an edible vegetable which has very less calories like pumpkin. As it has no saturated fats it is often suggested by dieticians for controlling the cholesterol and for weight reduction. It is also rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins. In South India it is referred as "Bangalore brinjal or Seemai Kathirikai".

Only few of the people likes chayote and I am one among them. I love it when it is cooked with dal this way. Being a fiber rich vegetable it should be added in our diet regularly. You should add this vegetable more during summer as it has lots of water content. Scroll down to see how to prepare chow chow kootu :)

Chow chow Kootu

Recipe Cuisine: South Indian | Recipe Category: Lunch

Prep Time: 10 mins | Cooking Time: 25 mins | Serves: 3 to 4

Ingredients:

Chow chow - 1

Toor dal / Thuvaram Paruppu - a fistful

Big onion - 1

Tomato - 1

Green chilli - 5

Turmeric - 1/4 tsp

Curry leaves - a sprig

Salt - to taste

Oil - 1 tblspn

Tamarind - chk

To grind:

Coconut - 2 tsp

Cumin - 1/2 tsp

Method:

In a pressure cooker, add dal, chopped tomato, green chilli, little water and cook for 3 whistle.

Meanwhile chop chow chow into small pieces.

When the pressure subsides, mash the dal and add the chopped chow chow along with turmeric and salt. Cook again for 2 whistles.

At the same time, grind coconut and cumin into a smooth paste and finely chop onion.

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. When it starts to crackle, add curry leaves followed by finely chopped onion and sauté till it turns translucent.

Add the cooked chow chow dal, ground coconut paste and enough water to this.

Cook for 5 mins and put off the flame.

Pictorial:

Keep all your ingredients ready. I missed cumin in this

Pressure cook dal, tomato and green chilli adding little water for 4 whistles

Meanwhile, grind coconut and cumin without adding any water. And also chop the chayote into small cubes

Now mash the cooked dal

Now, add chopped chayote, turmeric and salt along with the mashed dal adding half cup of water

Pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles

In a wok, heat little oil. Once the oil becomes hot, add the mustards.

Once the mustards starts to crackle, add in curry leaves

Add finely chopped onion and saute till it becomes translucent

To this add the pressure cooked chayote, dal mixture and ground coconut cumin

Cook for 5 minutes and put off the flame

It's ready to serve!