Ridge Gourd and Drumstick Leaf Kootu

Ingredients

• 1 (200 g) ridge gourd, chopped (பீர்கங்காய்)
• a small bunch drumstick (moringa) leaves (முருங்கை கீரை)
• 1 onion, chopped (வெங்காயம்)
• 1 tomato, chopped (தக்காளி)
• half a coconut fresh coconut, ground (தேங்காய்)
• for tempering mustard and cumin seeds (கடுகு & சீரகம்)
• 3 dried red chillies (மிளகாய் வற்றல்)
• as needed salt (உப்பு)
• 1 tsp coconut oil (தேங்காய் எண்ணெய்)

Method

1. Heat oil and temper mustard, cumin and dried chillies.
2. Add onion, ridge gourd, tomato and the greens one after another and saute.
3. Add a little water and salt and cook until tender.
4. Grind the coconut, stir it into the kootu, bring to a boil and take off the heat.

Adapted from பேலியோ ஆரோக்கிய சமையல் (Paleo Arokkiya Samaiyal) by Rtn Kannan Azhagirisamy, page 16. Method rewritten in our own words; ingredient quantities follow the book, with gram weights estimated for the nutrition figures. The book thanks the Arokkiya Unavugal (Healthy Foods) Facebook group and tamilpaleorecipes.com.