Chayote Kootu

Ingredients

Serves 3

Chayote - 1 no

Bengal gram dal - 1/4 cup

Moong dal- 1/2 cup

Tomato - 1 no chopped

Garlic - 1 pod minced

Sambar powder - 2 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Grated coconut - 2 tbs

Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp

Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp

Mustard - 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves - 10 to 15

Oil - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Soak Bengal gram dal for 2 hours. Wash chayote and peel the skin, chop into 1/2" cubes. In a stockpot, add the soaked bengal gram dal, cubed chayote, Tomatoes, turmeric powder, sambar powder, salt and 2 to 3 cups of water. Allow it to boil, reduce the heat to medium and close the lid. Let it cook for 5 mins and then add the washed moong dal, mix well and cook them until both the dals and the vegetable are done. Meanwhile grind coconut and cumin seeds into a fine paste with little water. Once the vegetable and the dals are done, mix the coconut paste into the stockpot. Cook for another 2 to 3 mins. Check for salt and season it with mustard, curry leaves and asafoetida. Enjoy the kootu with rice and a teaspoon of ghee.