Beetroot Kootu

As you all know, beetroot has many health benefits and usually i prepare  beetroot curry/ palya, in salad, beetroot juice and even beetroot laddo. This time thought to prepare something different or new. Here is my version of Healthy Kootu/gravy.

Ingredients:

• Beetroot - chopped 2 cups
• Moong dal /Pasi Paruppu/  Split Mung Bean - 1/2 cup
• Turmeric powder
• Salt

>for Masala Ingredients:

• Tuvar dal / pigeon peas- 1 tsp
• Dhaniya / Coriander seeds - 2 tsp
• urud dal / White Lentils- 1 tsp
• Black pepper - 3 seeds
• cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Whole Red chili - 2 to 3 nos.
• Grated coconut - 1/4 cup

>for Seasoning:

• Mustard Seeds - 2 tsps.
• Curry Leaves - few
• Pinch of Hing/ asafoetida
• Oil   - 1 tbsp

Time Required: 20 mins

Method:

1. Set the moong dal and beetroot in a separate vessel cook them in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles.
2. Chop the boiled beetroots into small pieces
3. Fry the above masala ingredients in little clarified butter/ghee/oil, cool them for 5 mins. then grind and keep it aside. (You can store this powder for next time usage also.)
4. Heat the pan with 2 tsp of oil add the mustard seeds allow them to splatter
5. Add curry leaves and hing and fry for 1 min. add the moong dal and 1 cup of water, turmeric powder, salt and mix  nicely to bring them in liquid consistency
6. Add the boiled beetroot and the ground masala mixture and cook for a little while to mix uniformly.

Serving: Serve hot with rice/ roti / chapatis.

Variation:  Instead of beetroot you can use vegetables like cabbage and snake gourd.