The healthy and tasty dish that I like to make is Poricha kootu. Any vegetable of choice can be added. It can be eaten with rice and it also serves as a good side dish for Chapathi. So here are the easy steps in making the dish.
Total time taken - 15 minutes/ 20 minutes
Ingredients:
Vegetables:
1. Chow chow - 1/2 cup
2. Carrot - 1/2 cup
3. Peas - 1/4 cup
4. Cabbage - 1/2 cup
Any good vegetable can be added based on your choice.
For Seasoning:
1. Black Pepper - 2 teaspoons
2. Urad Dal - 2 teaspoons
3. Channa Dal - 2 teaspoons
4. Mustard - 2 teaspoons
5. Asafetida - 1/2 teaspoon
6. Ginger garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
Create paste with:
1. Coconut - 1 cup
2. Red chillies - 3 pieces
3. Jeera/Cumin- 2 teaspoons
4. Dhania - 1/2 teaspoon
5. Tamarind(wash with water and add) - a pinch
Others:
1. Toor Dal - 1 cup
2. Moong Dal - 1/4 cup
2. Turmeric Powder - 2 tespoons
3. Salt to taste
4. Oil - 2 teaspoons
5. Chilli Powder - 2 teaspoon
6. Curry Powder - 1 teaspoon
Tip: Don't worry seeing so many ingredients... Once you start using them regularly they will seem to be easy to use. And always remember to keep all the ingredients ready before cooking. This dish is thick and heavy, when eating with rice, choose an easier side-dish. Also, wash all the vegetables before cutting them. If washed later, the nutrition would be lost.
Steps:
1. Pressure cook Toor dal and Moong dal. Add turmeric powder along with it initially.
2. Keep the stove in normal heat and in a pan add oil and the ingredients required for seasoning and saute for few minutes.
3. Once done, add the vegetables and pour some water and close the lid. Let them boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure all the vegetables are boiled properly.
4. Once done, add the paste, curry powder and chilli powder.
5. Mix all of the above contents well. Then add salt as required. Always add salt little by little so that it does not go excess. Once done, take the dish in a spoon separately to check the salt level.
6. Add the dal that was pressure cooked into the pan.
7. Keep the stove in high for 2 to 3 minutes until all the ingredients are mixed well. Keep stirring.
8. Once done keep the stove in sim and let it be there for few minutes.
9. Now pour the dish to a content and garnish with coriander leaves.
10. For people who wish to add seasoning at the end, it can be done by following the step 2 in the end.
And thats all, the dish is all ready to eat. I just love to eat it with chapathi as it is very much filling and also is very healthy!
Do let me know if you follow the same steps or how different yours is!
Make sure to -
1. Wash the vegetables and boil them enough so that the raw taste is gone.
2. Avoid microwave heating. I know its easier. But its not good in long run!
3. Cook only the amount needed. Do not waste food.
And as always, enjoy eating and enjoy more while cooking! :)
Here is a pic of hot hot poricha kootu that I made:
