Kootu is a gravy with vegetables and lentils and is a staple at home. It goes well with rice or with flat bread and is versatile. This recipe uses homemade rasam powder that is made using peppercorns and cumin seeds. It imparts a wonderful flavor to the kootu. The rasam powder stores well for months in an airtight container. I can say that this is my idea of comfort food. A bowl of rice, rasam and kootu is enough to keep me happy 
. For more kootu recipes refer to this link. Off to the recipe.
Poritha Kootu (Vegetable-Lentil Gravy)
Gravy with vegetables and lentils.
Ingredients:
- moong dal - 1/4 cup (payatham paruppu)
- channa dal - 1/4 cup (kadala paruppu)
- bell pepper - 2 3/4 cup - chopped
- salt - to taste
- asafoetida - a pinch
- rasam powder - 1 tbsp
Homemade rasam powder can be made following this link
- water - 1 cup
- For Seasoning
- oil - 1/2 tsp
- mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
- curry leaves - a few
Instructions:
Cook the lentils with water as needed and keep aside.
Cook the bell pepper with little water. To it, add the rest of the ingredients along with cooked dal. Simmer for around 10 minutes.
For seasoning, heat oil and splutter mustard seeds. Add curry leaves and add this mixture to the gravy. Serve with rice or roti.
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Pictorial
1. Cook the lentils and keep aside. I use a pressure cooker to cook the lentils.
2. Cook bell pepper in little water.
3. Cooked vegetables.
4. Add salt, asafoetida, rasam powder, water and cooked dal.
5. Simmer for around 10 minutes.
6. Heat oil and splutter mustard seeds. Add curry leaves. Add this seasoning to the gravy. Serve with rice or roti.
Tasty kootu ready.
Enjoy!
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Never tried with bell peppers looks good