Chayote dal - Chow chow kootu

Ingredients:

Chayote - Bangalore Kathirikai - 1 no. (Large)
Green gram dal - Pachai paruppu - 1/2 cup
Pearl onion - sambar vengayam - 5 nos.
Green chillies - Pachai milagai - 3 nos.
Grated/shredded coconut - small quantity
Coriander leaves - Kothamali - small quantity
Mustard - Kadugu - 1 tea spoon
Cumin seeds - Jeeragam - 1 tea spoon
Asafoetida - Perungayam - a pinch
Oil for frying
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash and cut chayote, wash dal and keep both in pressure cooker adding required water, a pinch of salt and asafoetida.
2. Cut small onions and keep other ingredients ready.
3. Heat oil in a pan/kadai and splutter mustard, cumin seeds, then fry onion and green chillies, finally add the smashed chayote and dal mixture and boil it for some 10 minutes. Add grated coconut at the end and add required salt and garnish with coriander leaves.

Chayote dal is delicious and ready to be served. It can be served for 2 people. It takes 20 minutes to cook.

Note: Peel off the skin from the vegetable and the centre part has to be removed before cutting and cooking. Pour only required amount of water while boiling because if we use too much water it will become smashed and the vegetables won't be visible.

Optional: Red chillies can be used instead of green chillies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chayote

Food is an important part of a balanced diet

Fran Lebourtz