Podalangai Kootu / Snake Gourd Kootu with Moong dal

Today's recipe is very easy and comfort recipe, South Indian Special Kootu with Snake gourd/Podalangai  and moong dal combo. This kootu is little different from my Cabbage kottu(with Coconut) and Chow Chow/chayote Kootu(without coconut). I love Snake gourd and its one of my fav veg, but for the past 4 years i did not cooked this Snake gourd/Podalangai and few weeks back happened saw it very fresh n green in Indian Grocery. Then immediately picked two medium gourds and with one i made this scrumptious kootu and another one i made stir fry(posting soon). This recipe involves simple preparation and tastes so yummy with plain rice and rotis too. I just love it with curd rice, Mmmmmm!!
Do try this recipe, am sure you will love it. The recipe as follows:

Ingredients

1. Snake Gourd    1 and 1/2 cup or 500gm (chopped)
2. Moongdal   1/4 cup or 100gm
3. Chana dal    2-3 tbsp
4. Turmeric Powder    1/4 tsp
5. Onion    1 medium sized (chopped)
6. Tomato   1 medium size (chopped)
7. Hing     1/8 tsp
8. Salt   to taste

To Wet Grind

1. Coconut     1/4 cup
2. Green chilies    4-5 no.s(adjust acc. to your taste)
3. Cumin seeds/Jeera    1/2 tsp

To Temper

1. Oil     1-2 tsp
2. Mustard seeds     1/2 tsp
3. Urad dal    1/4 tsp
4. Dry Red chilies   3 nos.(broken)
5. Cumin seeds    1/4 tsp
6. Fennel seeds    1/4 tsp
7. Whole Pepper corns   3-4 no.s
8. Curry leaves    few / 1 sprig
9. Cilantro / coriander leaves   few/ 2sprigs chopped

Method

• Soak Chana dal and moong dal for 15- 20 minutes. And grind the "Wet Grind Ingredients" using little water to a smooth paste n keep aside.
• Then cook dal with 2-3 cups of water with turmeric powder.

• Once it turned tender but not mushy, add chopped onion, tomato n snake gourd n a pinch of hing. 
• Combine well and then add the ground coconut paste..stir well and add enough salt and little water if u feel its too thick.

• Allow this mixture to cook in medium heat until the raw smell leaves and vegs gets cooked.
• Once done, remove from the stove and heat a tempering pan and add oil when its get hot add all the "tempering ingredients" one by one and wait till it splutter. 

• Then add the tempering to the kootu, give a nice stir and add some chopped cilantro.
• That's it Yummy n Flavorful Snake gourd kottu ready. Serve hot with plain rice n any desired stir fries or fryums.

Notes:
Instead of Moong dal you can also use chana dal alone to make this kootu.
With the same recipe, instead of snake gourd you can also use cabbage, chow chow, turnip, spinach, mixed vegs like carrot,beans n peas, or any desired vegs.