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Keerai kootu recipe, south Indian kootu

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Keerai-kootu

Keerai kootu recipe, a south Indian kootu is a part of south Indian Tamil lunch menu, served as accompaniment for rice. Stepwise pictures recipe.

I love kootu varieties,especially the way my mom does it!! One of her best kootu is Mixed veg kootu, I call it as sakalakalaa kootu😃. Me and my brother used to ask for second and third servings if she makes it and most of the time there will not be anything in the bowl for herself! Next to that kootu,keerai kootu is is the one i love,I can say,have I never tasted a better kootu than my mom’s!( I know this dialogue will be the most heard one😉)

Keerai means spinach, in India, we get variety of keerai. Commonly it can be told as amaranth leaves for better understanding. But in Tamil nadu, we get a huge variety of keerai, which I get confused to identify which is what. Arai keerai, mulai keerai, siru keerai are the three similar keerai which look similar but different varieties. I have here used mulai keerai. Some call thandu keerai too.

keera kootu

I have got requests as well as for my own reference, to update these three keerai varieties. But in singapore, we get only mulai keerai nearby which I buy. So I did not get an opportunity to update. All my India trips are shorter and packed with plans, so fail to get pictures from there too.

When my friend sangeeta left Singapore,I called her for lunch and this was in my menu….Her daughter and herself liked it very much,she gave her daughter, kootu with parata too and she said it was tasting good with that too. And I can say I am posting this for her and also it will help so many beginners!!

Keerai-kootu
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Keerai kootu recipe

Keerai kootu recipe, a south Indian kootu is a part of south Indian Tamil lunch menu, served as accompaniment for rice. Stepwise pictures recipe.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Indian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4
Cup measurements

Ingredients

  • 2 small bunches Keerai/ Amaranth leaves I used Mulai keerai with stem
  • 1/4 cup moong dal/ Paasi paruppu
  • 1 tsp Sambar powder
  • 1/8 tsp Turmeric powder
  • salt As needed
  • Sugar a pinch

To grind:

  • 1/4 cup Coconut grated
  • 1/2 tsp Rice flour
  • water little to grind

To temper:

  • 2 tsp Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Mustard
  • 1 tsp Urad dal
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 4 Shallots/ small onion

Instructions

  • Remove the root part of the keerai, check for any yellow leaves, infested leaves and take it out.
  • Wash twice or thrice in plenty of water as there will be sand/ dirt. Keep aside for the water to drain. Chop the keerai finely,with stem.
  •  Meanwhile, pressure cook moong dal and grind the coconut and keep aside.
  • Boil a cup of water,vadd turmeric, sambar powder, salt, sugar, followed by the chopped leaves.
  • Turn/ stir the leaves after a minute to ensure even cooking.
  • Cook till the stems are cooked well and then add the cooked,mashed moong dal and stir well.
  • Grind coconut with rice flour and little water to a paste. Add the ground coconut mixture to cooked keerai.
  • Mix well,bring to boil. Switch off the stove.
  • Temper with the items given in the To Temper table in order.

Notes

  • Adding sugar helps in retaining green. Adding a tiny pinch cooking soda also helps in retaining the green colour. Make sure it is aluminium free cooking soda.
  • After adding dal, stir often as it might get burnt at the bottom.
  • add more shallots/ small onions if its too tiny. 
  • Do not add rice flour more than mentioned.
  • Instead of sambar powder, use red chilli powder or green chilli along coconut.

Keerai kootu method:

  1. Remove the root part of the keerai, check for any yellow leaves, infested leaves and take it out.
    Keerai kootu preparation 1a
  2. Wash twice or thrice in plenty of water as there will be sand/ dirt. Keep aside for the water to drain. Chop the keerai finely,with stem. Meanwhile, pressure cook moong dal and grind the coconut and keep aside.
    Keerai kootu preparation 1b
  3. Boil a cup of water,vadd turmeric, sambar powder, salt, sugar, followed by the chopped leaves.Turn the leaves after a minute to ensure even cooking.
    Keerai kootu preparation 2a
  4. Cook till the stems are soft and add cooked moong dal, stir well.
    Keerai kootu preparation 2b
  5. Grind coconut with rice flour and little water to a paste. Add the ground coconut mixture to cooked keerai.
    Keerai kootu preparation 3a
  6. Mix well,bring to boil. Switch off the stove.
    Keerai kootu preparation 3b
  7. Temper with the items given in the To Temper table in order.

DSC_0804


Brown the onions nicely which is very important to enhance the flavor of the kootu. Mix well and serve as an accompaniment or mix this with ghee and rice,tastes heavenly!
keerai-kootu-recipe

Updated Picture

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. Suparna

    hi Raji,
    LOL …at the sakalakala kootu …lol that sounds so cute n funny 😉
    Hmmm…I love greens and love them in dals 🙂 Thanks for the recipe with step by step pics.
    WOW! I love the logo of the even ..lol it really is so cweet:)
    it's a fab theme!! and wishing u loads of fun hosting the event!
    TC

    Reply

  6. rekhas kitchen

    wow there is no tomato or tamarind in this kootu great since I don't eat pulippu on Friday s this will be a great choice for me simply superb and thank you so much for this delicious recipe looks great. And coming to your event great idea happy hosting will send some sure.

    Reply

  8. Chitra

    Kootu looks yumm..Iam not making it nowadays..Just kadaiyal i make..Have to do and c whether raksha eats it..Nice theme..Will send in something for sure..Happy hosting !!

    Reply

  11. Bharathy

    Heartwaaarming Koottu, with lovely pics as usual…One of my husban'd favourites..
    Event announcement pathu ooodddi vanthen…4 course treat..:( …hosting guests.. :((..namma pangu koncham kashtam than…

    Reply

  23. Nags

    damn! i just cooked for people weekend before last and all the recipes are in my blog but i dont have a final pic 🙁 i hardly ever entertain either..

    sigh.. nice idea for an event though..

    Reply

  30. Varsha Vipins

    What great pics Raks..cant stop drooling..I hav tried this with toor dal but not with moong dal..will do tat next time..n this sambar powder always confuses me..u have alink of it here?else could u please share it with us?
    ..n I have something coming up for the event..!:)

    Reply

  34. Priya Narasimhan

    Thanks for clarifying my doubt reg the vent Raks..I have been planning to make an elaborate meal for the family eversince I bought "dinner menus" mini book series by tarla dalal..Now, definitely I will make it atleast to participate in the event. 🙂

    Reply

  44. Cilantro

    Great event,It will help most of us as we tend to be in a dilemma of what to cook when guests arrive.
    Kootu looks delicious. I normally will not add rice powder, should try next time.

    Reply

  49. Pari

    Count on my entry too. I am visiting your blog first time and will return again.
    Do find time to dig into my space and leave me a note.

    Reply

  52. EC

    Guess that..I saw ur announcement at the right time..am expecting some guests next week..so most probably u will get my entry soon

    Reply

  56. Anonymous

    Hi there,

    First time on your blog and that sounds like a really nice event..Thoughtful as it would give n ideas for cooking for guests…Will def submit my entries…

    Shobha

    Reply

  67. Induslady

    Hi Raks,

    Some of the traditional recipes in your "Raks" blogspot Rocks!!

    I tried this Koorai Kootu with one variety of thandu keerai we get here in the US (not sure of the Keerai's name).

    It simply tasted awesome. We as a family had it mixed with rice, as a side for chappatis and it was very good. Thanks for this recipe.

    I think the trick is adding ground coconut+rice flour and brown roasted onions. Yum!

    Reply

  68. pavi

    Raji, I tried dis yummy kootu:) so tasty:) no tamarind…no tomato..still so tasty:) could do it in minutes:) nice option for spinsters lik me:) thank u:) I decided to try many more!!!

    Reply

  70. renanaisaani

    please can you tell me what is this KEERAI and MOLAI keerai i would like to make eat assoon as possible by look only i cant resist leaving the receipe page can you answer my comment.
    THANKYOU

    Reply

  72. pyariwaseema

    What do i say.. im speechless… your recipies are the ultimate….. i cant thank u enuff.. tried this recipie.. simply loved this stuff. the best part is my 8 month old baby who usually prefers/ has a sweet tooth was literally licking this curry.. he he he

    Reply

  73. renanaisaani

    I LIKED THE PICTURE AND THE RECEIPE SEEING ONLY I FELL LIKING EAT IT LOOKS SO VERY VERY TASTY BUT TO TELL YOU I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS KEERAI KOTTU WHICH VEGETABLE IS IT I KNOW ITS GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLE BUT I STAY IN GOA SO WHAT ITS THE OTHER NAME FOR IT PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW. I HAD MAILED BUT YOU DIDNT REPLY PLEASE DO REPLY NOW. SORRY FOR TROUBLE AND THANKS A LOT FOR SHARING YOUR RECEIPE.

    Reply

  75. renanaisaani

    Thank you so is it spinach? OR Amarnath leaves n spinach are same? Some one from here told me it might be bachala its like creeper n leaves are like money plant but thin n green in colour. so please do reply to my mail n thank you once again.and my name is Rehana.
    Rehana

    Reply

  79. kirthu

    Hi Raji… I have been going through your blog since recent times, kind of addicted to ur blog :)) almost everyday looking into it and trying each of your delicacies , Became my closest friend becoz of that, especially your karadaian nonbu adai, my mom only makes it every time, after seeing that gorgeous texture in your blog i pinned to give it a try on my own, like that i can keep on telling about you :)) today i tried this keerai kootu , it came out well, this time i wanted to write to you , thank u so much

    Reply

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