Sundakkai Kootu is a classic South Indian dish prepared with sundakkai, also called turkey berry or pea eggplant. This nutritious and flavorful dish is commonly served as a side dish alongside rice or roti. The Sundakkai Kootu recipe includes green gram dhal and fresh sundakkai for an authentic taste.
To prepare, start by cutting or crushing the sundakkai and soaking it in water. Cook the green gram dhal with a pinch of turmeric until soft. Drain the soaked sundakkai and place it in a pot, covering it with just enough water. Add sambar powder, another pinch of turmeric, and salt, then cook until the vegetable is tender. Once soft, stir in the cooked dhal and let it boil. Finally, season the dish with a tempering of mustard seeds, urad dal, asafoetida, onions, and curry leaves for added flavor. Enjoy this nutritious and hearty dish as a side with rice or roti!
Sundaikai Kootu
4
servings5
minutes15
minutesLearn how to make the delicious and nutritious South Indian dish, Sundakkai Kootu. It is packed with flavor and served as a perfect side dish to rice or roti.
Ingredients
Sundakkai – 1 cup
Green Gram Dhal – 1/4 cup
Sambar Powder – 1 teaspoon
Turmeric Powder – a pinch
Oil – 1 teaspoon
Mustard – ½ teaspoon
Urad dal – 1 teaspoon
Asafoetida Powder – a pinch
Onion chopped – 1 tablespoon (Optional)
Curry leaves – few
Salt – 1/2 teaspoon or as per taste
Directions
- Remove the small top stem and cut the Sundakkai into two. Or remove the top and using a wooden roller you can crush the Sundakkai. Put it in water.
- Cook green gram dhal along with a pinch of turmeric powder till soft.
- Take out the Sundakkai from water and put it in a vessel. Add just enough water to cover the vegetable. Add sambar powder, a pinch of turmeric powder and salt. Cook it on medium heat. When the vegetable is soft, add the cooked dhal and mix well. Allow to boil.
- Season it with mustard, urad dal, asafoetida, onion and curry leaves.
kamala mam iam a beginner i tried your rava pongal it came out well. I also tried your besibelabath, onion samber which tastes good. thanks a lot. expect you to post more receipes.
tommorrow iam going to do this. afterwards i will comment
What is Sundaikai? I don’t speak Tamil, and I don’t see a picture of the vegetable also.
Please give English names or a picture of the ingredient, that is helpful, as the Internet brings people from many corners of the world to websites like yours.
Hi Lavinia Hall,
Sundaikai is known as “Turkey Berry” – Please check this link for picture https://www.kamalascorner.com/others/sundaikai.html