Chow Chow Kootu (Chayote Squash Curry with dal)

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Kootu is my daughters favourite and this is the only way she can eat even the veggies she doesnt like - like mother like daughter :) We have a long weekend this week as Monday is a local holiday here, Looking forward for a comforting and relaxing weekend!

Chow Chow Kootu - Ingredients

• Chow chow(Chayote) - 1 cut into small cubes
• Toor Dhal - a fistful
• Turmeric powder - a generous pinch
• Salt - to taste

To grind together:

• Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
• Jeera / cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• To Temper:
• Oil -1 tsp

To temper:

• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad Dhal - 1/2 tsp
• Hing(Perungayam) - a generous pinch
• Curry leaves - few
• Green chillies - 1 slitted

Method:

1.Grind coconut and jeera to a coarse paste and set aside.Pressure cook toor dal with water until mushy and soft. Mash it well with a laddle and set aside.

2.Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, urad dhal, green chillies and curry leaves.Then add onion and hing saute till onion shrinks. Add chow chow along with turmeric powder, saute for 2mins. 

3.Then add cooked dhal and required water cook covered until the veggie becomes soft.Allow it to boil and  Keep stirring in between.

4.Then add the coconut paste and allow it to boil till it becomes thick.Switch off and serve with hot rice.

My Notes:

• Add the coconut paste only after the veggie is cooked

• The curry will thicken with time so switch it off accordingly.

• You can also replace toor dhal with chana dal.