MATHAN KOOTTU

'Mathan (pumpkin) koottu' forms a good side-dish for all sour koottaans. Prepared with pumpkin, it is a bit sweet.

Ingredients –

Pumpkin – 600 gms

Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

Jaggery / sugar – 1-2 tsp

Red chilli powder – ½ tsp

Salt to taste

Grated coconut – 2 – 3 tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1 tsp

Urad dal – 1 tsp

Whole red chilli – ½

Oil – 1 tsp

Green chilli – 1

Curry leaves - 7

Method

Wash the cubed pumpkin pieces.

Heat ½ cup of water in a pan and add the pumpkin pieces. Add turmeric and chilli powder and jaggery and salt and cook covered on low heat.

Stir in between. Add more water if required.

When the pumpkin is tender, add the coconut and mix well.

Heat a tsp of oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and urad dal. When they crackle, add ½ a red chilli and curry leaves and transfer it to the pumpkin.

After 10 minutes add 1 green chilli (crushed).

Tips

Usually I add green chilli (curry leaves / coriander leaves for that matter) after 10 minutes so that they don't lose their bright green color due to the heat.

© Copyright 2011. Brinda Balasubramonian.