Beetroot Kootu

IngredientsServings: 4

• 1/2 cup moong dal
• 1/2 cup channa dal
• 3 medium size beetroot chopped into small pieces
• 1 and 1/2 tsp salt (as per taste)
• 1 medium size tomato (optional)

For tempering

• 2 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 tsp urad dal

For Grinding

• 1 tsp urad dal
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 3 or 4 pieces of red chillies (as per spice level)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp pepper corns

About

Instructions

Grinding

• in a pan add 1 tsp of cooking oil
• add all the ingredients listed under For Grinding (1 tsp cooking oil, 1 tsp urad dal, 3 or 4 pieces of red chillies (as per spice level), 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp pepper corns) except coconut.
• fry it until the urad dal turns into golden brown
• turn off the stove and add coconut and saute for 1 minute
• add all the fried ingredients into the blender add 1/2 cup water and grind it to a thick paste, may add more water if needed

Tempering

• in a small pan heat cooking oil
• add mustard seeds wait until sputters
• add urad dal and let it turn slightly brown
• add curry leaves and asafoetida
• pour the tempering into the kootu mixture

Cooking

• chop beetroots into small pieces
• wash moong dal and channa dal
• add it to a pressure cooker along with chopped beetroots, tomato(optional) and 2 cups of water
• pressure cook for 2 whistles OR 20 minutes in high pressure mode in the instant pot
• in the meanwhile follow the steps listed under Grinding and Tempering
• open the cooker once pressure is released
• add ground paste, tempering and salt
• mix well and boil for 5 minutes on medium high
• turn off the stove and healthy, yummy kootu is ready!!!

Tips & Tricks

• instead of beetroot we can use any choice of veggie - chow chow, pudalangai, peerkangai, cabbage, avarkai, drumstick and spinach
• do not over fry the coconut which will make the kootu dry
• adjust consistency as per your choice

Step by Step Instructions

1. chop beetroots into small pieces

2. wash moong dal and channa dal

3. add it to a pressure cooker along with chopped beetroots, tomato(optional) and 2 and 1/2 cups of water

4. add all the fried ingredients (1 tsp cooking oil, 1 tsp urad dal, 3 or 4 pieces of red chillies (as per spice level), 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp pepper corns) into the blender add 1/2 cup water and grind it to a thick paste, may add more water if needed

5. in a small pan heat cooking oil,add mustard seeds wait until sputters, add urad dal and let it turn slightly brown, add curry leaves and asafoetida, pour the tempering into the kootu mixture

6. add ground paste, tempering, salt and mix well and boil for 5 minutes on medium high

7. turn off the stove and healthy, yummy kootu is ready!!!