Peerkankai Kootu

Peerkankai Kootu is a South Indian dish consisting of ridge gourd and lentils. It is a flavorful dish typically served with rice or roti. Ridge gourd, known as “Peerkankai” in Tamil, is commonly found in the US as “Chinese Okra”.

Peerkankai (Ridge Gourd) Kootu

Recipe by S Kamala
0.0 from 0 votes
Course: KootuCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes

Ridge gourd is called Peerkankai in Tamil and it is available plenty in USA as Chinese Okra. This kootu is served with rice as a side dish.

Ingredients

  • Ridge gourd – 2 Nos

  • Green gram dhal – ½ cup

  • Tomato – a small one

  • Sambar Powder – 2 teaspoons

  • Turmeric Powder – 1/4 teaspoon

  • Jeera (Cumin) – 1/2 teaspoon

  • For seasoning:
  • Oil – 1 teaspoon

  • Mustard – ½ teaspoon

  • Urad dal – 1/2 teaspoon

  • Curry leaves – few

  • Chopped onion – 1 tablespoon

  • Asafoetida Powder – a pinch

  • Salt – 1 teaspoon or as per taste

Directions

  • Scrap the skin from the ridge gourd and cut it into small pieces.
  • Cut the tomato into small pieces.
  • Cook green gram dhal along with a pinch of turmeric powder till 3/4th cooked.
  • Add ridge gourd pieces to the dal along with tomato, cumin, sambar powder and salt.
  • Close with a lid and cook on medium flame till it is soft.
  • In a tadka ladle put a teaspoon of oil. When it is hot add mustard. When it starts pop up add urad dal, curry leaves asafoetida and the chopped onion. Fry for a second and add this seasoning to the Kootu. Mix well and remove.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • You can add little coconut gratings ground with one green chilli for extra flavor. Or add only coconut gratings for garnishing. Also you can add two to three sambar onion chopped to the seasoning.

2 Comments

  1. This is my favourite. Thanks for the recipe.

  2. Thanks for the recipe. Tastes yummy. Cooked today as a side dish with your Iru Puzhi kuzhambu.

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