Monday, August 6, 2007

Snake Gourd Milk Kootu




This in my 50th post and these day I am lazying around to post recipes. I have successfully completed six months in the blog sphere. During these six months I have earned so much of love and attention from all my talented and friendly fellow bloggers that I never realized how fast six months just passed by.

I couldn't make anything special but can assure you that the snake gourd kootu sure is a winner recipe. Snake gourd is called as podalankai in Tamil, Potlakaya in Telugu, Padavalanga in Malayalam, Padavalakai in Kannada and Chachinda in Hindi. I am making a podalankai pal kootu, a recipe of Tamilnadu.

Ingredients

2 cups snake gourd
1 cup gram dal (chana dal)
1 cup fresh coconut
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp pepper corns
4-5 green chillis
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp turmeric
Salt

For Tempering

1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp split urad dal
1-2 dry red chillies (torn in to tiny portions)
a dash of asafoetida
fresh curry leaves
2-3tsp oil

For garnish

fresh chopped cilantro

Preparation

Pressure cook the dal for just two whistles with water just enough to cook the dal. As snake gourd gets cooked very fast I prefer cooking it for few minutes on stove top with just 1-1/2 cup of water. The snake gourd should not be over cooked, cook until it is just soft.
Grind coconut, peppercorns, cumin seeds and green chillies together. You can reduce the amount of green chillies if you don't want it very spicy because the peppercorns and the red chillies give lot of heat too.
In a deep bottomed pan, add oil and temper with the given ingredients and let them splutter. To the tempering add the ground coconut mixture with the heat on medium low. We don't want the coconut to let out the oil. The kootu should be thick, so strain the water from the pressure cooked dal and add it to the coconut mix. Let the coconut mixture get cooked for about 5-6 minutes. Now add the dal, cooked snake gourd, turmeric and salt to the mixture. Let all the flavors marry in.
Once the kootu starts getting thick turn off the heat and add milk. Garnish with fresh cilantro and delicious Snake gourd milk kootu is ready.

53 comments:

Laavanya said...

Sharmi, that looks very good! I make kootus using a similar method but have never tried adding milk.

sunita said...

Congrats on your 50th post... I love coming here and I hope to come back for many more yummy morsels :)...keep it up!!

Prema Sundar said...

Sharmi adding milk to make kootus is new to me too. would love to try it sometime . thanks.

FH said...

Happy 50th post and blog on girl!:)
I agree how many friends we make,how goo it feels to be cared and appreciated.Great recipe for 50th,authentic dish.
Btw,we call it Padavalakai in Kannada,almost like Keralites!:)

Sharmi said...

Laavanya and Prema, adding milk really enhances the taste of kootu. just give a try and you will love it.

Sharmi said...

Asha honey, added the kannada word too. Thanks so much.

Richa said...

that's a delicious recipe, i like the dal/veg combo. have u tried it with any other veg as well? same pinch, i too completed 50 posts recently, feels good, ain't it :)

Sharmi said...

Richa, this kind of Kootu is made with cabbage, beans, ridge gourd and lot many other veggies too. thanks yarr.

musical said...

Great 50th post! keep them coming, dear! Its such a simple and delectable preparation!

TBC said...

That is such a nice combo!
Congrats on completing 50 posts.:-)

SeeC said...

Congrats on your 50th post. Keep going.

What a coincidence. I too prepared Snake Gourd Koottu today...but without milk.
The koottu looks very yummy and rich.

Anonymous said...

Congrats for your 50th post Sharmi ! Looking forward to many more :-)

Anh said...

A lovely dish with rice. I am sure it tastes just as good as it looks! :)

Roopa said...

he congrats on 50th post!the kootu looks ver comforting and delicious

Mishmash ! said...

Hey...congrats dear....:) now I am waiting for ur next RCI post :D

Shn

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your 50th Post and a lovely a kootu recipe. Looks delicious.

J said...

Congratulations!! Look forward to many more delicious treats from you :)

Coffee said...

Congrats Sharmi. Nice recipe there.... I have always loved these south indian versions. :)

Viji said...

All kootus are great additions to our rice Sharmi. This one is great. Viji

archana said...

Congrats Sharmi . Even my 50th post is nearing. Nice kootu.

Unknown said...

Congrats Sharmi!!! And with a lovely recipe too !!!

Sandeepa(Bong Mom's CookBook/DesiMomzClub) said...

Congrats Sharmi...and more love coming your way from me :) Hugs and be here always.
Don't know much about Kootu but looks fab

Suma Gandlur said...

Congrats on your 50 th post and I wish you further success in your future.
Kootu look delicious.
What a way to incorporate nuts, a cutlet with nuts. I love it.

Priyanka said...

Congrats Sharmi.... you always come up with some of the yummiest and easiest recipes to make with your detailed presentation and pics...:) btw, the Rasabali tastes like gulabjamuns in sweet flavored milk/rabdi... but you need the milk or else the paneer balls will taste bland.

sra said...

Think you've mentioned this once earlier, maybe in RCI Tamil? I didn't even know Tamilians ate milk-based curries till then.

sra said...

Happy 50th post, Sharmi, I don't think I'll reach the century-mark by the blogiversary, as many seem to be doing!

Seema Bhat said...

Wow nice padavalakai recipe Sharmi. congrats on your 50th post and may you continue posting such wonderful authentic dishes for the years to come.

Chef Jeena said...

Hi Sharmi, what a great recipe! I bet it tasted delicious. I have all but a few of the ingredients, what could I use instead of snake gourd?

Chef Jeena said...

Hi Sharmi thanks for the reply :) I may try cabbage with your recipe sometime I bet it is really tasty!

Cynthia said...

Anything cooked to share amongst family and friends is special. We thank you sincerely for sharing so much of yourself, your food and culture with us. Looking forward to more.

Hugs.

Prajusha said...

hey,
A big congrats on ur 50th post.
usually in kerala we don't add milk while making kootu.this is new to me and will try next time using milk. thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

We usually make this with bottle gaurd. Got to try this with snake gaurd and see.

Kajal said...

Very nice idea of adding milk....Nice recipe for 50th post.....:)

Sig said...

Congrats on the semi-century Sharmi... :) I thought you had much more than 50, well if you break down all your RCI posts, you could very well get to 100 :D... Hope to see many more!

amna said...

looks delicious and nutritious. will certainly try it out as soon as i get my hands on some snake gourd. i love vegetables cooked with dhal :)

thanks for your comment and encouragement. means a lot to me..

Raaga said...

it has a Hindi name??? I don't even see it here. I have to go to a south indian store to get it.

Nice recipe. I will try it soon.

COngrats on your 50th post. I agree with Sig... you post some half a dozen recipes in one post... in the name of a thali... you should be at 100 now :-)

Hugs :-)

Sharmi said...

Thank you so, so much Musical, Tbc, Seec, Nz, Anh and Roopa. your comments are my inspiration!

hey Shn, You are scaring me. I am not very prepared about this RCI! thanks.

Sharmi said...

Thank you so much Lakshmi, Jyo, Coffee, Viji, Archana and cinnamon. Your comments are my true inspiration.

Sandeepa and Suma many thanks for your lovely and inspirational words.

Priyanka, thanks so much for the info on rasabali.

Sharmi said...

Ya Sra, that is a similar recipe with another veggie. thank you.
thanks so much Seema and Jeena.

Many Thanks to Cyn, Prajusha, Hima and Kajal.

Sig, ya honey I know it will come up to 100 if I count RCIs. :) thank you so much.

Dear N, thanks and you are most welcome.

Raaga, thanks a lot "hugs accepted"

Suganya said...

WOOOO..This is looking great..... Lovely picture.....YUM!...

SMN said...

Hey..Congrats Sharmi.. great recipe and S ur Half century.. and im lukin forward for ur century! i do it in a different type.. i will post the recipe soon

Swaruchy said...

Sharmi,Looks very good....photos are awesome....:-)

Padma said...

Congrats on your 50th post and Potlakai kottu looks yummy

Tee said...

This sure is a winner recipe! Congrats on your 50th post! I cook snake gourd in a similar way but without the milk...will add it next time i make this dish.

I did get further clarification on the use of custard powder for kulfi...it may be used but the flavour will change. Hope this helps :)

marriedtoadesi.com said...

I'm sure this must taste fabulous. I honestly find there is nothing as satisfying as south indian cooking.

Kanchana

Bharathy said...

Congrats on half-a-century posts!!:)..
We make parangi pinnchu pal koottu with almost the same methods..:)
parangi pinnchu=young yellow pumpkin,as u know..
Will try this for sure,sharmi...:)

amna said...

hi sharmi. thanks for the visit and the comment.. i knew someone wud catch up reflection, u were the first :D

Mandira said...

congratulations on your 50th post, here's to many more to come. the kootu looks delicious, have to try that soon...

vijisriram said...

Hi
Congrats on your 50th recipe. Gr8 going. I used 2 do poricha kootu, now i ve got a new recipe. Sounds yummy.

luv
vijisriram

Finla said...

Hi
You have a great blog
I just started one. Of course no so far as yours, i am just a beginer
http://mykitchentreasures.blogspot.com/
It will be nice if u add me in your link
Thanx

Sharmi said...

Thanks so much dear friends.

Bharathy, Pumpkin kootu is new to me. will have to try sometime.

Dee said...

Congrats on ur 50th post sharmi, The snake gourd kootu looks very good!

DV said...

Lovely kootu with the addition of milk :) You have a beautiful blog with awesome recipes!! :)