Suraikkai Kootu (Bottlegourd-Channa Dhal Coconut Curry)

Category: Kootu / Lunch
Preparation Time: 10 mins + 30 mins soaking time
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Servings: 2-3 servings

Bottlegourd Kootu

Ingredients:

• Suraikkai / Bottlegourd - 1 small sized, finely chopped
• Channa Dhal - 1/3 cup
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Water - as needed

For Grinding:

• Fresh Coconut - 1/2 cup, packed
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Green chillies - 1-2 (Adjust as per spiciness)

For Tempering:

• Coconut Oil - 1 1/2 tsp
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
• Urad dhal, split - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Red Chilly, broken - 1 no 
• Asafoetida - a generous pinch

Method:

1. Wash and soak Channa dhal for atleast 30 mins
2. Wash and remove the skin of bottlegourd as well as any big seeds and chop it into fine pieces
   
3. In a pressure cooker, add the soaked channa dhal, finely chopped bottlegourd pieces, turmeric powder and required water; cook in medium flame for 2-3 whistles
4. Meanwhile grind the coconut, cumin seeds and green chillies into a fine paste. If making for kids, we can avoid the green chilly for grinding and use only for tadka
5. Once the dhal and veggie gets cooked, open up the lid and mash them well
   
6. Add the ground coconut paste to the cooked dhal and allow to boil for few mins in low to medium flame
   
7. Add required salt and once it reaches kootu consistency (little thick), switch it off
   
8. In a small pan, heat coconut oil and once it becomes hot add the mustard seeds followed by urad dhal, curry leaves, red chilly and asafoetida
   
9. Pour the tadka into the kootu
   
10. Serve hot with Rice and some Thogayal!!