Ash Gourd Kootu Recipe | White Pumpkin Kootu with Milk | Kootu Recipes

Ash gourd Kootu

Ash gourd/White Pumpkin/Vellai Poosanikkai is apt for making kootu and mor kuzhambu. This ash gourd kootu recipe is a different take to the usual kootu and adding milk gives different flavour to this dish. I love kootu recipes and this white pumpkin kootu is no exception to it. 

This recipe is from Amma's kitchen and this kootu is being served in weddings in Tirunelveli. It has a wonderful unique taste and goes well with sambar or any tangy kuzhambu. Let's check how to make this easy ash gourd kootu recipe.

White pumpkin Kootu 3

Ash Gourd Kootu Recipe

Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
25 mins
Total time
35 mins

Ash gourd kootu - South Indian Tamilnadu style Kootu with Ash Gourd/white pumpkin,channa dal and milk.

Author: 
Recipe type: Kootu
Cuisine: South Indian
Serves: 2

Ingredients
  • Ash gourd - 1.5 cups chopped
  • Channa dal - 1 tbsp
  • Boiled Milk - 1/4 cup
  • Sugar - 1 tsp (optional)
  • Salt - as required
To Grind 
  • Coconut grated - 1/4 cup
  • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Small onions - 4
  • Raw rice - 1/2 tsp
  • Green chillies - 1
To Temper
  • Oil - 1 tsp
  • Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1 tsp
  • Curry leaves - 1 sprig
White Poosanikai Kootu 2

Preparation :

1. Peel the skin off from ash gourd and chop them to small cubes. Keep aside.
2. Grind coconut, green chillies,cumin seeds, raw rice and small onions with little water to a fine paste and keep it ready. 
Poosanikai Kootu - preparation step

Procedure :

1. Take the chopped ash gourd pieces and channa dal in a vessel and add a cup of water to it. Boil it until the ash gourd is completely cooked.
Poosanikai Kootu - step 1
2. Now add the coconut paste to the cooked ash gourd and mix it slowly. Start boiling the kootu in low medium flame for 5 minutes or until the kootu consistency is reached. Then add milk along with sugar (if using) and boil it for two more minutes. Don't boil the kootu for more time after milk is added. 
Poosanikai Kootu - step 2
3. Heat a tadka pan and add the items to temper. Let the mustard seeds cracks and urad dal turns brown, then add curry leaves. Fry for a minute. Add the tempered items to the kootu and mix it well.
Poosanikai Kootu - step 3

Serve the ash gourd kootu with steamed rice and any kuzhambu of your choice. We had it with ladies finger sambar.


Poosanikai Kootu 1

Notes :
  • Skip sugar if you don't prefer sweet taste.
  • Keep the flame in low to medium while boiling the kootu in order to avoid the bottom to get sticked.
  • If the kootu is watery add a tsp of rice flour in the end and boil it for 2 minutes to make it thick.
  • This kootu thickens with time so switch off the flame accordingly.

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