Pudalangai Koottu (Snake Gourd Curry)

Many feel that a tasty and mouth watering dish cannot be prepared out of this vegetable. But this is a very commonly used veg in Chettinad. Chettiar ladies make simple and tasty koottu and poriyal with this. In some parts of Tamilnadu they make poricha koottu with this.
This koottu can be mixed with rice and be given to kids who have started taking rice as it is easily digestible. It is good for those recovering from illness and is an excellent dish for the newly delivered moms.

Please note that excess of dhal will lessen the taste of the vegetable

More medicinal value of the vegetable can be had in this link

http://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/snake-gourd-glory.htm#ixzz1bKCLYYRg



Ingredients
Snake gourd -1 medium size
Broken green gram (pasi paruppu) -2 to 3 table spoon
Bengal gram (kadalai paruppu)-1 table spoon
Small onion-2 or 3 (1 table spoon of minced big onion)
Green chili-2
Sambar powder-1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder-1/2 teaspoon
For seasoning
Small jeera-1 teaspoon
Broken urudh dhal-1/2 teaspoon
Curry leaf-little

Procedure
I always prefer cooking green gram in a kadai since I feel that the dhal gets a sticky texture if pressure cooked. Those who are used to cooking the dhal in the cooker please give this a try. Moreover the dhal will get cooked very fast even in a kadai.
In a kadai cook both the dhal together along with the turmeric powder
Once the dhal is cooked well, add the cut snake guard, onion, green chili and sambar powder.
Make sure there is 1 to 1 ½ cups of water in the kadai for the vegetable to get cooked.
In half way stage add the salt needed.
Cook for 10 minutes in medium fire.
Before switching off make sure of the consistency.
If you are going to feed the child with this then the consistency should be little watery else you can have your desired consistency.
This koottu has to be seasoned in the end preferably in ghee. Ghee gives the extra bit of taste and flavor for the curry.