Soraka Paal Kootu (Sorakaya/ Bottle Gourd)

Kootu is a south Indian dish (Tamil Nadu) which is easy to make and is not really spicy. I make this on and off at home. I dont remember my mom ever making this. I dont even remember where I picked this recipe. OK...let me leave the introduction short for now :)

Ingredients:
Bottle Gourd/Sorakaya: 1/2, pealed and chopped
Fresh coconut: 1/2 cup
Channa dal: 1/2 cup, cooked
Milk: 1/2 cup
Green Chili: 3
Turmeric powder: 1/8 tsp
Salt
Pepper powder: 1/2 tsp

For Tadka:
Oil: 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
Cumin seeds: 1 tsp
Curry Leaves: 1 string

Method:

• Pressure cook the already cooked dal and bottle gourd together for about 20 mins. 
• Remove the lid of cooker after the pressure is gone. 
• Meanwhile, grind coconut and green chilies together and keep them aside. 
• Now, switch on the stove of the pressure cooker and add coconut mixture, salt, turmeric powder and pepper powder and bring this to boil. 
• In about 5 minutes the raw coconut smell would be gone. Switch off the stove and keep the cooker aside. 
• Now add milk and stir. 

Thats it! Yummy kootu is ready to be enjoyed!

Serving suggestion:
1. Goes well as a side dish with some spicy achar or with papad.
2. Another way of making bottle gourd is, Poriyal