Puli Kootu or Pulippu Kootu is an authentic Tamil brahmin recipe and is made quite frequently in most homes .It is a must have on the wedding feast menu and hence also known as Kalyana Kootu .
Puli kootu is very tasty as it has a balance of all flavors and the tanginess from the tamarind extract gives it an altogether different flavor profile.
Pulippu kootu fits perfectly for those following a Vegan Diet and also being a No onion No garlic recipe it is Saatvik and Jain Friendly as well.
Pulippu kootu can be made with brinjals, ash gourd /white pumpkin or chayote/chou chou . In traditional tambrahm weddings puli kootu is made from ash gourd/poosanikaai and has either boiled chick peas or groundnuts added to the kootu .
In my recipe today ,I am going to use boiled peanuts but I also make it using boiled chickpeas many a times and both of them taste really delicious.
Puli kootu with hot rice and some coconut based vegetable stir fry is an amazing combination for lunch. In my home most often the left over puli kootu is paired with chapati for night and it pairs well .
Cooking Time - 30 mins
Complexity- simple
Serves - 2 to 3
2 cups chopped ash gourd /poosanikaai
1/4 cup thoor dal /pigeon peas/thuvaram paruppu
1/4 cup peanuts
Small lemon sized tamarind ball
Few curry leaves
Pinch of turmeric
Salt as needed
2 tsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
Pinch of asafoetida
To roast and grind
1 tbsp channa dal
1 tbsp dhaniya/corriander seeds
2 tbsp coconut grated
3 to 4 dry red chillies
Method
- In a pan heat 1/4 tsp oil and roast the channa dhall until crisp and golden brown followed by the dhaniya and red chillies.Allow it to cool and the grind into a fine paste with coconut and set aside.
- Soak the tamarind in hot water for 10 mins and then extract the pulp . Strain the impurities and keep ready .
- Boil the chopped ash gourd in sufficient water until it is cooked well..it has to be firm but well cooked .
- Pressure cook the thoor dhall and peanuts in 2 separate containers in the same cooker .Mash the thoor dhall well and set aside. This saves a lot of time and effort as well.
- In a thick bottomed vessel,add the boiled ashgoured ,peanuts and the tamarind extract with 1/4 cup water and boil it until the raw smell of the tamarind is lost.
- Next add the coconut paste , cooked thoor dhall and another 1/2 cup water and bring to a rolling boil.Adjust salt at this stage . Donot boil too much as the dhall will begin to start sticking to the bottom of the pan and it may get burnt..we don't want a burnt kootu .
- Prepare a tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves and asafoetida and pour it on the pulippu kootu.