Kootu Curry

 

Kootu Curry is a thick curry and one of the main dish served in onam sadhya during Onam festival in Kerala. Kootu Curry recipe is explained with step by step method and photos.Kootu Curry is a very tasty and easy to prepare onam sadhya recipe made with cooked black chickpea, yam, raw banana, coarsely ground coconut cumin paste, roasted coconut and tempering in coconut oil.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Kerala Kootu Curry Recipe.

Ingredients:-

Black chickpea (Kadala).- 3/4 cup
Raw Banana.                    -1
Black pepper (crushed).   -1 tsp
Turmeric powder.             -1/4 tsp
Grated coconut.                -1 cup
Cumin seeds.                    -1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds.                  -1tsp
Dry red chillies.                - 2
Urad dal.                           -1/2 tsp
Curry leaves.                     -1sprig
Grated coconut.                 -1/4 cup for roasting
Coconut oil.                       -2 tsp +1tbsp
Salt.                                   - to taste
Yam chopped.                    -1 cup

Instructions:-

1). Soak black chickpea / kadala in water overnight and pressure cook the soaked chickpea adding sufficient water for 3 whistles or till soft. Once cooled drain water and keep aside the cooked black chickpea.

2). Peel and remove the outer skin of raw banana and yam.Chop raw banana and yam into small pieces. Wash well and keep aside the chopped raw banana and yam pieces.

Method:-

1). In a wide bottom pan add chopped raw banana pieces, yam pieces, crushed pepper, turmeric powder and required salt and mix well. Boil and cook the vegetables adding required water till soft.

2). Add pressure cooked black chickpea into the pan and mix with the cooked banana and yam pieces.

3). Grind 1cup grated coconut and 1/2 tsp cumin seeds to a coarse paste. Add this coarsely ground coconut cumin paste into the pan and mix with all the ingredients in the pan. 

 

4). Boil and cook till the curry becomes little thick. Stir in between and switch off the flame.

 

5). Heat 2 tsp coconut oil in a small pan for seasoning and add urad dal and saute well. When urad dal starts to change its colour splutter mustard seeds and saute well. Add broken dry red chilly pieces and curry leaves into the pan and fry in oil for a second and switch off the flame. Pour the above seasoning /tempering into the kootu curry and mix well.

 

6). Heat 1tbsp coconut oil in the same small pan. Add 1/4 cup grated coconut and roast well in coconut oil till golden colour. Switch off the flame and pour the roasted coconut into the Kootu Curry and mix well.

 

Transfer the Kootu Curry to a serving bowl.

A very tasty Kootu Curry is ready to serve with rice.