Pumpkin Kootu Recipe – South Indian Yellow Pumpkin Kootu Recipe

PUMPKIN KOOTU RECIPE

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Serves 4
Recipe source: Mom-in-law

Ingredients:

• 3 cups of pumpkin, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup of yellow moong dal (I add more than normal, you can adjust per taste)
• 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder
• A few of curry leaves

To Grind

• 1/2 cup of grated coconut
• 1/2 tsp of red chilli powder
• 1 tsp of cumin seeds
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 shallots, optional but recommended

To Temper

• 2 tsp of oil
• 1/4 tsp of black mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp of hing

How to Make Pumpkin Kootu:

1. Add the moong dal and pumkin to a wide pan along with the turmeric powder and salt. Close pan and simmer until the pumpkin is cooked and the dal is soft yet holds its shape – about 15 mins.

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2. Grind together the ingredients listed under “to grind”

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… and add to the pumkin dal mixture along with the curry leaves.

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3. Mix well and simmer further until the raw smell leaves the coconut paste – about 3-4 mins. If there’s not enough water in the kootu after cooking the dal and pumkin, you can add it along with the coconut mixture but don’t add too much water at this stage.

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4. Heat oil in a small kadai and add mustard seeds.

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When they pop, add the hing and stir it before dunking into the kootu. Mix well and adjust salt if required.

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Serve hot with rice and rasam or kuzhambu. I served it with rice and methi pakoda along with a hot bowl of pepper rasam.