Seemai Kathrikai/Chow-Chow (Chayote) Moru Kootu

Chayote is mostly available in vegetable market throughout the year. Here I have prepared moru kootu (மோர் கூட்டு) using chayote.

Kootu is a healthy side dish prepared in Tamil Nadu. It is healthy because it uses less spices and oil. My family likes all types of kootu. This Seemai Kathrikai/Chow-Chow (Chayote) Moru Kootu is a nice combo for variety rice, pulikuzambu, chapathi etc. Seasoning this dish with coconut oil makes it more tastier.

Other dishes that I prepare with chayote are: Thuvayal, Adai (pancake).

Chayote is known as Seemai Kathrikai (சீமை கத்திரிக்காய்)/Chow-Chow (சௌ சௌ)/Bangalore Kathrikai (பெங்களூர் கத்திரிக்காய்) in Tamil. Buttermilk is known as moru (மோர்) in Tamil.

Ingredients

• Chayote chopped – 2 cup
• Sour curd/thick buttermilk – half cup
• Toor dal or pigeon pea – 1 tablespoon
• Bengal gram – 1 tablespoon
• Cumin seeds – half teaspoon
• Mustard – quarter teaspoon
• Coconut grated – 2 tablespoon
• Green chilli – 2 no
• Curry leaves – few
• Salt – as per taste
• Coconut oil/any edible oil – half  teaspoon

Method

• Soak toor dal and Bengal gram for 30 minutes; grind it as a coarse paste by adding grated coconut, green chilli, one or two curry leaves and cumin seeds.

• In a pan, boil chopped chayote with salt till soft; add ground paste.

• Cook for few seconds (to ensure that spices get cooked); now add curd and mix.

• Boil for few minutes (add little water if required to get thinner consistency); now do seasoning separately (with mustard, curry leaves) in another small pan.

• Add seasoning and mix well.

• Now Seemai Kathrikai/Chow-Chow (Chayote) Moru Kootu is ready. Serve hot as a side dish.

Tips

• This dish can also be prepared with other veggie like bottle guard, ash guard, green leafy vegetables and cucumber.