I also love the fact that it cooks super fast. Usually, I make a stir fry with mushrooms and broccoli, or add it to pesto pasta or even veg biryani. To prepare broccoli for cooking, I usually immerse the entire thing in some salt water to remove any small bugs or works (usually there are none but just in case) and leave it there for about 30 minutes. Then I run it under clear water and gently cut off the large florets from the thick stem. The florets can then be chopped into smaller pieces as we desire. In this broccoli kootu recipe, I have also used the stems so the entire vegetable got used.
Last week I was on the phone with Amma and she mentioned how her aunt makes a kootu with cauliflower stems. Usually we discard the thick stems but since theirs was a joint family and a big household, they would save up all the stems and make a kootu with just. What a lovely idea to minimise wastage of vegetables in the kitchen!
My mom makes kootu with moong dal that’s been roasted a golden brown. In fact, she recommends that I roast moong dal as soon as I buy it and store it that way so that no bugs or ants enter the jar and it lasts forever.
I decided to take the lone broccoli I had in the fridge and make a kootu with it, stem and all. Easy decision. So let’s check out how I prepared this broccoli kootu. You may also like this pudalangai kootu which is made with snake gourd and chana dal (Tamil style) or even this watercress moong dal recipe which goes great with rice too.
Broccoli Kootu Recipe
Serves 2-3
Ingredients:
1 small broccoli
1/4 cup dry-roasted moong dal / cherupayar
1/4 cup grated coconut
4-5 shallots / ulli / chinna vengayam
3 green chillies (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp cumin / jeera / jeerakam
A pinch of turmeric powder
To temper:
2 tsp oil (I used coconut oil)
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
4 shallots, chopped
A few curry leaves
Instructions:
1. Prepare the broccoli by immersing in salt water for some time and then running under cold water. Cut the florets into desired sizes and then lightly peal the stem before chopping it up too.
2. Grind the coconut coarsely with the shallots, cumin, green chillies and turmeric by adding some water.
3. Heat oil for tempering and add the rest of the ingredients. Once the mustard seeds pop and the shallots turn transparent, add the ground coconut paste and saute for a minute. To this, add the moong dal, 1/2 cup water and cook closed on a low fire for 10-12 mins or until the moong dal turns mushy when pressed between two fingers.
4. Add the broccoli and some salt to the above. Cook in the open pan until the broccoli is soft. We like it semi-soft so I cooked it for lesser time. Adjust according to your liking. You can also add more water at this stage if the kootu turns out too thick.
mm.. sounds good.. I love broccoli in all forms.. I use up the broccoli stems and cauliflower stems in my soups.. it tastes really good
lovely! i must try this – i normally do broccoli poriyal if i'm making it indian style or add it in pulaos…great pics!
No dear…will try to post when I make it next:)
I also love Broccoli…. I uaually make Broccoli Mappas and stir fried Broccoli…. will try this recipe next…. Nice clicks as always:)
Nice and great combination dear..Broccoli koottu sounds yummy and healthy.
Hmm..nice way to use Broccoli Indian style..:).My mil makes a curry using greenpeas and cauliflower stems and I bet you wouldn't mistake those[stems] for a vegetable:).We love broccoli too:):)
Nice. So I have a whole bag of moong dhal sitting around looking very unhappy. I had bought it for the ICC moong dhal halwa challenge, and now I know something to use it up with. Merci beaucoup!
Strangely enough, purely out of peer pressure, I hated brocolli as a kid. But I really like it now. I think its more to the fact that its soooooo easy to make.
sounds interesting will try this one… we all at home love broccoli too recently I discovered a achari broccoli rec turns out yummy
Broccoli mappas sounds awesome! have u posted it in your blog?
Brocoli has been my fav veggie in the recent days…this kootu sounds interesting. Last click is fresh!!