SOUTH INDIAN KOOTU

Ingredients :

vegetables with which you can make kootu :
snake gourd chopped into small cubes - 1 cup (OR)
cabbage and carrot chopped - 1 cup (OR)
spinach/keerai chopped fine - 1 cup (OR)
marrow cut into small cubes - 1 cup
Moong dal - 1/2 cup
salt to taste
turmeric powder - 1 tbsp

For tempering :
coconut oil - 1 tbsp
mustard seeds - 1 tsp
urad dal - 1 tsp
hing - a pinch

Ground into paste :
fresh grated coconut - 1/2 cup
cumin seeds - 1 tsp
pepper - 4-5
red chillies - 3

Method :

In a pan cook the moong dal for 10 mins
add the vegetables, salt, turmeric powder and mix till it blends well
add the ground paste and mix well
for tempering take coconut oil in a pan
splutter the mustard seeds
add the urad dal and saute till it becomes pink
add the hing and pour over the kootu

some people mix all vegetables like marrow, snake gourd, carrot, drumstick, cabbage and then make this kootu. i dont prefer this as the flavour of the individual vegetables would be lost