Chow Chow/Chayote Paal kootu (Palakad cuisine)

Chow chow paal kootu is my kids favourite dish. They have either as side dish or as mixing with rice. Normally, i use to cook in large quantity as they like to have for dinner also as a side dish. This dish can be done without adding coconut or with coconut. My recipe is without coconut. An idle dish for all seasons. It took only 20 minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

Chow chow/Chayote - 1 (medium sized)
Tomato - 1
Moong dal or pasi paruppu - 1.5 cups
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Lemon  -  Half
Salt to taste

For tempering

Mustard - 1 tsp
Urid dal - 1 tsp
Dried red chillies - 2 or 3
Asfoetida - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves

Step by step method

Measure 1.5 cups moong dal or pasi paruppu in a pressure pan

Add water and turmeric powder

Chop tomato and add it to the moong dal mixture. Saute for a minute.

Add diced chayote too. Stir well. Close the pan with the lid.

After 1 whistle sound, switch off the stove. Open the lid after 5 minutes and add milk. Mix well without smashing chow chow/chayote.

In a wok or kadai, add 1 tsp oil and mustard

Once mustard cracks, add urid dal and roast. Add dried red chillies, asfoetida and saute.

Squeeze half a lemon after the chow chow paal kootu is warm and mix.

Garnish with curry leaves. Chow chow or chayote paal kootu is ready to serve with rice, chapathis, parotas, phulkas,  puris, idli and dosai.