Koottu Curry

Here’s the recipe for spicy koottu curry that’s usually served in marriage feasts in our place. Koottu curry is a combination of vegetables and chick peas, and is usually a semi-dry preparation. The vegetables commonly used for making koottu curry are raw banana, chena/ elephant yam and winter melon. This is specially made for ThiruOnam

Ingredients

1. Raw banana - 2, small, diced
2. Chena / yam - 1.5 cup, diced
3. Green chillies - 4 - 5, slit
4. Curry leaves - 1 - 2 sprigs
5. Cooked chana - 3/4 cup (Soak dried chana overnight and pressure cook adding enough water and salt for around 5 whistles)
6. Vanpayar / red chori - 1/4 cup, optional (Pressure cook dried vanpayar in enough water and salt for 4 -5 whistles)
7. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
8. Chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
9. Cumin powder - 1 tsp
10. Garam masala powder - 1 tsp
11. Grated coconut - 1.5 - 2 cups
12. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
13. Dry red chillies - 3 - 4
14. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
15. Salt - To taste
16. Coconut oil - 1 tbsp

Method

1. Cook the raw banana and yam cubes along with turmeric powder, chilly powder, green chillies, curry leaves, enough water and salt. Cook until they are done and the water evaporates completely. Add garam masala powder, cumin powder and the cooked kadala and vanpayar. Mix well. Meanwhile roast the coconut until it turns brown (take care not to burn it). Crush it slightly(optional) and add to the cooked vegetable mixture. Check for salt.

2. In a small pan, heat coconut oil and splutter mustards. Fry dry red chillies and curry leaves. Pour over the koottu curry. Serve hot with rice.