How to make Poosanikai Kootu | White pumpkin kootu| Kootu Recipes

Poosanikkai kootu or Ash gourd kootu is yet another my favorite kootu. This version is my grandma's recipe. We can make Kootu, sambar, mor kuzhambu and halwa using this Ash gourd.

How to make Poosanikai kootu

Preparation time: 20 min | Cook Time: 10 min | Serves: 4
Recipe Category: Side dish | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients

• Poosanikkai / White pumpkin - 300 gms
• Bengal gram / Kadalai paruppu - 4 tsp (1/2 cup)
• Coconut - 1/4 cup
• Green chillies - 2
• Cumin seeds / Jeera - 2 tsp
• Rice - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Salt - as per taste

For seasoning

• Oil - 2 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - few
• Red chilli - 1

Method:
1. Soak the rice for 30 min.
2. Cook the bengal gram separately till it becomes soft and keep aside.
3. Now remove the skin, seeds and middle white portion of the pumpkin or ash gourd. Cut into cubes and wash it.
4. In a wok or kadai or a vessel, add the ash gourd, turmeric powder, a pinch of salt and water just to cover the vegetables. Cover and cook it.
5. Meanwhile, take the soaked rice, cumin seeds, green chillies and coconut and grind to a smooth paste.

6. Check the vegetable is cooked to soft. Now add the ground coconut paste.

7. Add the cooked bengal gram and mix well. Allow to cook for another 5 min.

8. Meanwhile, prepare the tadka or thalippu. In a small pan, add oil, and when hot add in the mustard seeds, urud dhal, curry leaves, red chilli and fry for a min.

9. Transfer this content to the cooked vegetables, give a stir.
10. Yummy kootu is ready to be served with rice.

Notes:
1. You can reduce the quantity of Bengal gram to half and add the moong dal.
2. While doing the seasoning or thalippu, you can add the finely chopped small onion and fry and can be added to the vegetables.

You can also look at

Snake gourd Kootu

Pumpkin Halwa

Almond Banana Carrot Smoothie | Summer Special Drinks

Here is another refreshing and healthy smoothie for this summer. It can be had in the breakfast and it would be very filling to handle the day.

Ingredients:

• Almonds - 1 cup
• Grated carrot - 1 cup
• Banana - 1
• Sugar - as needed
• Full cream Milk - 3 cups
• Water - 1 cup
• Ice cubes - as required.

Method:

1. Take the almonds/badam and soak in hot water for 2 hrs (it is good to replace the hot water after 1 hr, with some more hot water) or soak in normal water for 5 hrs.

2. Meanwhile grate the carrot. Cut the banana just before using it else it may become black.

3. After 2 hrs, remove the skin of the almonds.
4. Transfer the almonds, carrot and banana to the food processor or mixer grinder.

5. Add in the sugar and milk and process/grind it until it becomes to a smooth paste.

6. Add the ice cubes and give a stir again.
7. Filter it to filter out the residue and serve it chilled.