Chembu Kumbalanga Moru Curry | Kerala Style Chembu Kumbalanga Moru Kootan | Kerala Style Chembu Kumbalanga Pulissery

Taro & Ash Gourd in a coconut based yogurt gravy

In my last post, I talked so much about keeping up on your resolutions and chasing dreams and pursuing passions and what not (Though I didn't talk that much, that was what I had in mind while I was writing that post) And the foremost on them was to be a regular here and I had all things necessary for that too.. Like draft posts, step-by-step pics of recipes, edited photos... But, but, but.. My laptop went into a hibernation mode and would not connect to the internet.. All my other devices would but not my laptop :( Something or the other to deter you, right?? Sigh !! So you are asking me how it is working now? I don't know, seriously I don't :) As I mentioned before, it went on hibernation on it's own and when it felt the time was right, it again was up and running :D Maybe it's way of detox week ;)

And so what am I back with? It is a very regular kootan that is made at Deeps' place. Kootan is nothing but a gravy based dish that is had along with rice. Some call it curry, some gravy, some kuzhambu, some pulusu, some charu and so on. You must have got me now, right? So all gravy based recipes are called as Kootan at Deeps' place. And generally they have a kootan, kuthari choru (rice), upperi (dry sabzi or stirfry), meen varuthathu (fish fry), pappadam and kondattam molagu (deep fried sun-dried green chillies) for lunch. This is mostly a normal everyday menu there :) 

And this yogurt based moru kootan is made mostly twice a week and is a family favorite too.. We usually play with different combo of veggies here. Here today I have made with Chembu (Colocassia) & Kumbalanga (Ash Gourd). You can also use Vellarikka (Cucumber), Kaya (Raw Plantain), Chena (Elephant Yam), Manga (Mango) etc to make this. This can be made with a single veggie alone or a combo of two as well. Usually we do not use chembu alone as it is of sticky nature and can make the gravy very dense or thick. Hence usually when using chembu pair it up with kumbalanga or vellarikka. So do try out this easy recipe (Only the prep part takes lil time, I assure ;)) which will taste awesome with rice and a chicken varatiyathu (or any non veg dry side dish) and let me know how you liked it !

Other Sadhya recipes:

Beans Thoran

Beetroot Thoran
Cabbage Thoran

Mathanga Erissery

Mathan Erissery | Mathan Vanpayar Erissery

Mampazha Pachadi | Pazhutha Manga Pachadi

Mambazha Pulissery | Mambazha Kaalan

Pulissery | Kachiya Moru | Mor Kuzhambu
Sambar | Kerala Style Varutharacha Sambar with no Coconut

Homemade Ada for Adapradhaman

Recipe Source: Amma

I Took: 

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Serves : 3-4 persons

I Used:

Chembu/Taro/Colocassia/Arbi	-	4-5 nos
Kumbalanga/Ash Gourd/White Gourd/Winter Melon	-	200 gm piece (1 cup after cutting to pieces)
Red Chilly powder	-	1 tbsp
Turmeric powder	-	1 tsp
Salt	-	As Needed
Curd	-	1.5 cups

To Grind:

Coconut	-	½ cup
Green Chilly	-	2-3 nos
Cumin seeds	-	½ tsp

To Temper:

Coconut Oil	-	2 tbsp
Mustard	-	½ tsp
Fenugreek/Uluva	-	½ tsp
Red Chilly	-	2 nos
Curry leaves	-	1-2 sprigs

The Way:

1. Soak the chembu/colocassia in water for 10-15 minutes. After that peel the skin off using a scraper/knife. Cut them into small bite sized pieces.

2. Clean the kumbalanga/ash gourd by peeling/cutting off the skin and then discarding the middle portion (with seeds) as well. Then cut them also into bite sized pieces. 

3. Grind together the items under 'To Grind' by adding a little (about 2 -3 tbsp) water and keep aside.

4. Then whisk the curd nicely using a whisk so that it becomes loose and no lumps are present. Alternately, you can take the curd in a mixer and give a quick pulse also.

5. Now in a pressure cooker, add the chembu/colocassia pieces along with salt, turmeric powder, red chilly powder and water (around 1 - 1.5 cups) and cook them for 2 whistles in medium flame or till they are half - cooked.

6. Once they are cooked, add the ash gourd/kumbalanga pieces and cook till done. This may take about another 2-3 whistles in medium flame.

7. Now heat oil in a kadai. Splutter the mustard seeds and fenugreek. Then add red chilly and curry leaves and saute for a minute.

8. Add the ground coconut paste and stir well for about 3-4 minutes till the raw smell goes off and moisture starts leaving the pan.

9. Add the boiled chembu-kumbalanga pieces along with the water and give a nice stir.

10. Now switch off the stove. Immediately add the whisked/beaten curd and give a nice stir. Take care that the curd does not curdle. You may have to remove it from stove after stirring for this. Serve with rice, upperi or a non-veg dry side dish of your choice :)

Cheers,
Chitz