Pooshnikai Mor Kootu

My mom makes this kootu (gravy) often. She prepares this with coconut thogayal/thuvayal (a variation of spicy coconut chutney) and together they make an awesome combination. This is one of her most well known, well received go-to dishes.

It is so simple to make and extremely tasty!

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup of diced pooshnikai (white Indian pumpkin) or chow-chow (and Indian squash) or any other squash, gourd or pumpkin
2. 1/4 cup grated coconut (unsweetened)
3. 2 green chillies
4. 1 teaspoon salt
5. 1.5 cups yogurt
6. 1 tablespoon coconut oil
7. 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
8. 1/2 teaspoon jeera / cumin seeds
9. a few curry leaves

Preparation:

1. Boil cubed pooshnikai (or chow-chow or any other gourd) with just enough water to barely cover them, until they are tender. Remove from heat.
2. Grind coconut and green chillies along with some salt. 
3. Mix this ground paste in yogurt.
4. Add this to to the cooked pooshnikai and mix well.
5. Heat coconut oil in a pan. When hot, splutter mustard seeds, add cumin seeds and curry leaves. Add this tadka/garnish to the kootu and give a final stir.

Serve as a side-dish to rice or rotis.