September 29, 2019

Thiruvaadhirai Kootu | 7 kari Kootu - Vegan


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Thiruvadhirai Kootu or 7 kari (vegetables) kootu is made on the Auspicious day called "Arudra Darshanam" in the holy month of "Margazhi" or "Dhanur" as per Tamil Calendar .
This  recipe was on my mind for a very long time to blog but somehow wouldn't come together. This month we are traveling through recipes from the state of Tamil Nadu in  our FB group called Shhhhh Cooking Secretly Challenge and I was given the secret ingredients by Renu who blogs on "Cook With Renu".
Thanks to you Renu , that I could finally put this recipe together which was otherwise pending for a long time .

Significance of Arudra Darshanam

This auspicious day will fall anytime between Dec 15 to Jan 15 on the day coinciding with the star/Nakshatram "Thiruvadhirai" or "Arudra" and Full moon day (Pournami) .
Astronomical speaking , this happens to be one of the Longest nights .
Mythologically speaking , it is believed that Lord Shiva is in his Cosmic Dance form on this day and blesses all his devotees in the form of Nataraja - his cosmic avatar .
The holy temple of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu celebrates this festival with all pomp and glory . Devotees flock in large numbers to have the Darshan of Lord Nataraja on this day.
A special prasadam called Thiruvadhirai Kali and Kootu are prepared and offered to the Lord .
Kali is a sweet made using broken rice, jaggery and cardamom while kootu is a savory made using 7 vegetables basically tubers and a few native vegetables like yam(chenai/suran), raw banana, potato, Arbi(Seppan) , Ash gourd(poosanikkai) , Red Pumpkin(Parangikkai) , Field beans  or Peas , Sweet potatoes , Brinjal .

Today we shall see the recipe for the Kootu while I shall blog the recipe for Kali sometime soon .
This kootu is also known as Thalagam in many households especially those from the Thirunelveli Region of TN .
Each house will have their own signature recipe with minor variations as passed down to them from their ancestors or elders over generations.

Preparation Time : 30 mins
Cooking Time : 30 to 40 mins
Serves : 4-5
Complexity: Medium


 Ingredients
1 medium raw banana
1 medium sized potato
150 gms yam/ Suran
100 gms ash gourd (white pumpkin/elavan/poosnikaai)
100 gms red pumpkin (Parangikkai/ Matthan)
Handful of boiled field beans(mochai)
Or
Handful of fresh or frozen peas (I used peas today)
1 medium sized carrot
1 cup tamarind extract
1/2 cup thoor dal pressure cooked (50gms approx)
2 tsp powdered jaggery

To roast and Grind
1 tablespoon thoor dhall
1/2 tablespoon udad dhall
2 tablespoon dhaniya seeds
1 tsp methi seeds
2 tsp raw rice
5-6 dry red chillies
1 cup fresh grated coconut

To temper
2 tsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
Few curry leaves
Asafoetida

Method
Roast all the ingredients except Coconut under the Roast & Grind till they turn brown and crisp. Let it cool for a few mins and then add the coconut and grind to a fine paste. Keep aside .


Chop all the vegetables like how we do for sambar and then boil them until 1/2 done in 1 cup water with a little salt and turmeric.  Once the veggies are 1/2 cooked ,add the tamarind extract and cook until the raw flavor of tamarind is lost.
To this add the ground coconut paste , boiled dhal , mix well and add some water . The consistency should be slightly thick . Allow it to come to a rolling boil . Stir occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom and cook on medium flame.

Add some jaggery and adjust salt if needed.
Lastly temper with mustard ,curry leaves and asafoetida and pour it over the kootu.
Serve hot with rice or the traditional Kali .


The kootu will tend to thicken over time due to the presence of coconut mixture and dhall . If you find it too thick while eating, add a little warm water to dilute.

 Notes

  • Generally 7 types of vegetables are used , but you can do with fewer also , but try to use atleast 5 . 
  • The addition of pressure cooked thoor dhall is optional . You can skip it too.
  • THALAGAM recipe made in Thirunelveli side doesnt use mashed thoor dhall while the rest of the steps are same .



24 comments:

  1. The kootu sounds lipsmacking, especially the ground paste and all those vegetables that have gone in...

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  2. Kootu is simple food that tastes great, filling and has the goodness of many veggies. Your dish looks tasty.

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  3. This is one of my most favourite dishes from Tam-Brahm cuisine! I love the way the freshly ground spice mix makes the dish super fragrant and delicious. :)

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    1. I call it a star dish which is filled with flavor and nutrition

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  4. Kootu sounds superbly delicious. I would love to have it with steamed rice

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  5. Love this version of mixed veggie curry(as I will call it)..with freshly ground masala must be such a flavourful dish to enjoy with steamed rice!!

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    1. Hehe...some people do call this curry as well . Pls do try and post your feedback

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  6. This Kottu with all the veggies and freshly ground spice mix sounds delicious and healthy. Thanks for the recipe.

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  7. Thirvaadhirai kali with this kootu! Takes me back many many years to my childhood when my mother would serve this piping hot. The combination of sweet and spicy was the highlight of the day! Lovely share!

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  8. Using 7 different veggies with freshly grinded spices tastes so delicious and aromatic. Love to have it with hot steamed rice 👌.

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  9. Such a wonderful way to get so many veggies together into a nice creamy, healthy and nutritious curry or kootu. All the seasonal veggies are used. Perfect as a meal with some steaming rice.

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  10. The curry looks very inviting and bursting with flavours. I have never used this type of beans and would love to try it out soon

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  11. Freshly ground masala adds to the flavour. this is like aruchivitta sambhar masala , but a few changes. I have a slightly different version of Thalagam, but will try ur method too.

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  12. This is one of the famous recipe from Tamil cuisine. You have presented beautifully and the curry looks delicious.

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  13. Sounds delicious. Kootu is something new I have learnt since coming to the blogging world. This kootu will be loved at home

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  14. Yay..i made thalagam too with a lil change..i looove it 😊

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  15. I want to try this kootu for long time. Looks so delicious and tempting

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  16. My mum does kali and kootu and mother in law thalagam. Both are such adorable ones and i just thought how long it was since i made them. Will try this recipe now.

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