Thiruvathirai Kootu/7 Kari Kootu/EzhuKari Kootu/Pongal Kootu – Thiruvathirai Special Recipes/Pongal Special 7 Kari Kootu

Thiruvathirai Kootu is a special kootu made with country vegetables [Nattu Kaikarigal] during thiruvathirai festival and offered to Lord Shiva along with Thiruvathirai Kali and steam cooked white rice. This kootu is also prepared on Pongal and offered to Sun god along with Sakkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal and Paal Pongal. This kootu is made with a minimum of 7 different types of vegetables and increase the number up to 21, but always odd number of vegetables only must be used. Try to add as many as country vegetables which available abundantly during this season. I have made this kootu with 9 different types of vegetables like Avarakkai, Mochhai, karnai kizhangu, white pumpkin, yellow pumpkin, brinjal, Do try out this Thiruvathirai Kootu and post your comments here. Meanwhile do check out other interesting and tempting Dal/kootu/kuzhambu varieties and Thiruvathirai Kali here.

Here’s how to make Thiruvathirai Kootu with step by step photos…

Ingredients

Thur dal/Thuvaram Paruppu	¼ cup
Tamarind/Puli	One big lemon size ball
Asafoetida/Perungayam/Hing	One big pinch
Turmeric Powder/Manjal Thool	1 tsp
Curry Leaves/Karuvepilai	10-12
Salt	As needed
Gingelly Oil	½ tsp

Required Vegetables

Poosanikkai/White Pumpkin	1 piece
Parangikkai/Yellow Pumpkin	1 piece
Vazhaikkai/Plantain/Raw Banana	1 small
Karunaikizhangu/Elephant Yam	1 piece
Avaraikkai/Broad Beans	10-12
Kathirikkai/Brinjal	3-4 [small]
Urulaikizhangu/Potato	2
Sakkarai Valli Kizhangu/Sweet Potato	1
Pachhai Mochhai/Field Beans	1 cup

For Roasting and Grinding

Oil	1 tsp
Coriander Seeds	2 tbsp
Bengal Gram Dal/Channa Dal/Kadalai Paruppu	1 tbsp
Urad Dal/Ullutham Paruppu	½ tbsp.
Red Chillies	6-8
Black Pepper/Milagu	5
Fenugreek Seeds/Vendhayam	5
Coconut/Thengai	10 pieces
Curry Leaves/Karuvepillai	10-15

For Tempering

Ghee	1 tbsp
Mustard Seeds/Kadugu	½ tsp
Cumin Seeds/Jeeragam	½ tsp
Dry Red Chillies	2-3
Curry Leaves	10-12

Preparation Time: 15 minutes                      Recipe Category: Rice Accompaniment

Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes                       Recipe Cuisine: South Indian

Author: Priya Anandakumar

Other kootu varieties that might interest you...

Agathi Keerai Kootu/Agathi Keerai Paasi Paruppu Kootu
Thiruvathirai Kootu/7 Kai Kootu/7 Kari Kootu
Ponnankanni Keerai Kootu
Zucchhini/Courgette Kootu
Ridgegourd Kootu/Peerkangai Kootu
Carrot & Tomato Kootu
Beetroot Kootu/Beetroot Kadalai Paruppu Kootu
ChowChow Kootu/Chayote Kootu
Cabbage/MuttaiGose Kootu
Vazhaipoo Kootu/Banana Flower Kootu
Surrakai Kootu/Bottle Gourd Kootu
Pudalangai Kootu/Snake Gourd Kootu

Preparation:

Wash all the vegetables and keep it ready.

Chop all the vegetables to big pieces. Wash the pachai mochai and keep it ready.

Soak the tamarind in about 1 cup of water and extract the juice and keep it aside.

Method

Add all the vegetables to a pan/kadai/Chatti [I used black chatti], along with ½ tsp of turmeric powder, required salt, 2 cups of water and let it cook.  [add more water if needed]

Mix the vegetables well. Cover and cook for about 8-9 minutes in medium low flame. 

The vegetables should be cooked but should not become mushy and overcooked.

Wash the thurdal/thuvaram paruppu thoroughly with water. Add thur dal/thuvaram paruppu to the pressure cooker with enough water, ¼ tsp of turmeric powder, ½ tsp of gingelly oil, perungayam/asafoetida and pressure cook for 3 whistles. Let the pressure release and keep it aside.

Roasting & Grinding

When the vegetables are cooking roast and grind the ingredients. 
Heat 1 tsp of oil in a kadai/pan, add 2 tbsp of coriander seeds, 1 tbsp of kadalai paruppu, ½ tbsp. of urad dal, 8 dry red chillies and fry until the dal changes to golden brown color.

Now add black pepper, fenugreek seeds and fry well for another 20 seconds.

Add curry leaves and fry for about 20-30 seconds.

Finally add coconut pieces, mix everything well and fry for another 30-40 seconds and switch off the stove.

Let the whole mixture cool down completely. Add everything to a mixer and grind it to fine paste with required water.

Making Thiruvathirai/Pongal Kootu

Open the lid and check if the vegetables have cooked [not mushy or over cooked], add the ground masala paste to it.

Add the tamarind water to it as well and give a gentle mix.

Add required water and adjust the consistency of the kootu. Add little salt at this stage.

Now add the cooked thuvaram paruppu/thur dal and mix well. Let the whole mixture boil for another 2-3 minutes.

Meanwhile heat 1 tbsp of ghee in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds, add cumin seeds, dry red chillies, 10-12 curry leaves and fry until the curry leaves turn crispy.

Add the tempering to the kootu.

Yes, delicious and super healthy Thiruvathirai Kootu is ready for neivedhyam.

Serve this Thiruvathirai Kootu along with Thiruvathirai Kali and steam cooked white rice.

Thank you all for visiting my space, please come back again for more traditional and authentic recipes from my kitchen.

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