KOTHAVARAKKA USILI

'Kothavarakka usili' is an elaborate dish but worth the effort for its fabulous taste. It has the added nourishment of lentils and tastes great with most koottans. Better to prepare this with a non-dal koottan like 'morkoottan' / 'pulungari'.

Ingredients 

Kothavarakka ('gawar') – 300 gms – chopped fine

Tuvar dal / chana dal – 3-4 tbsp

Whole red chilli – 2 - 3

Asafetida – a pinch

Oil –1 ½ - 2 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1 tsp

Urad dal – 1 tsp

Whole red chilli – 1” piece

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

Salt to taste

Curry leaves – 8

Method

Soak tuvar/chana dal in water for 20-30 minutes. Wash, drain off the water and grind coarsely with red chilli and salt.

Chop kothavarakka finely. Wash well.

Boil water in a pan. 

Add chopped kothavarakka and turmeric powder and salt. Cook on medium heat till tender.

Drain off the water.

Heat the oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and urad dal and asafetida.

Then add the ground dal and stir. Cook covered for 5-8 minutes on low heat sprinkling a little water if necessary. Stir well and continue to cook on low heat till the dal turns light brown.

Add curry leaves and stir.

Add the cooked kothavarakka and mix well.

Turn off the heat.

Tips

1. Beans usili can be prepared in this manner too.
2. Also 'Vaazhapoo' usili.

© Copyright 2011. Brinda Balasubramonian.