Appala kootu is traditionally made with Chana Dhal, Appalam(Flat disc made with urad dhal flour) and potato. But in this recipe, I use flat green beans(Avarakkai), because if you see the Original kootu recipe, the ingredients make are low in Fiber and rich in Carbohydrate. To make the kootu nutritionally balanced food, next time when you make appala kootu include flat green beans it is rich in fiber and may regulate the insulin.
Traditinally Appala Kootu is served with any spicy currys/Kulambu. I like to pair the appala kootu with kara kulambu. Please check the kara kulambu recipes Kathirikai kara Kuzhambu, Poondu kulambu, Vendaikka Kara Kulambu.
Ingredients:
50 grams of onion finely chopped
25 grams of tomato finely chopped
2 small cloves of Garlic
1/2 cup of dry chana dal(Bengal gram)
100 grams of chopped flat green beans
One Large Potato roughly chopped
1 green chili
5 curry leaves
1/4 cup of chopped coriander leaves
1 tsp of salt
1.5 tbsp of coconut paste
2 tbsp of oil
12 to 15 Appalam
For tempering:
1 tbsp of oil
1/4 tsp of cumin seeds
1/4 tsp of mustard
1 medium size dry red chili
1/4 tsp of asafoetida
Procedure:
Preparation:
Wash and, Soak the channa dhal for 5 hours in plain water or overnight.
Cooking:
Step 1:
1. In a pressure cooker Heat some oil , add onion, tomato, flat green beans, Potato, Garlic, Some salt and saute the vegetables very well, until soft.
2. Drain the excess water from the soaked chana dhal. Add the soaked dhal into the pressure cooker with some water and salt. Pressure cook the chana dhal until the dhal is well cooked but not mushy.
Step 2:
1. Deep fry the appalam in the oil or Toast the appalam on the Dosa tawa or microwave the appalam for 20 seconds.
2. Break the fried appalam into two halves and keep it aside.
Step 3:
1. In a small pan, heat some oil for tempering.
2. To the hot oil add the ingredients for tempering.
3. Either add the tempering to the cooked dhal and vegetables or pour the vegetable and dhal mixture into the tempering.
4. Add the coconut paste and, Let kootu boil for a minute or so.
5. Now reduce the flame and drop the fried appalam into the runny kootu and mix well.
6. Once the appalam absorbed the kootu water, switch off heat and take the dish from the heat.
Appala Kootu is ready. Appala Kootu is the best side dish for Kara kulambu, rasam rice, variety rice or eat it as is.
Note :
My favorite Appalam Brand 1, Brand 2
