Power greens pack is usually a mix of powerful greens like spinach, kale and chard. Some packs include Tat Soi and Arugula, and the combinations might vary. Dietary fiber and other essential nutrients are present in every green leaf variety and having a mix of varieties add up variety of nutrition to the meal. Adding lentils/dals add up protein content to the meal. Rice/Roti served with Power greens kootu makes a wholesome meal and you shall add any nutritious sides to increase the nutrient content of the meal.
Power Greens Kootu recipe
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Base ingredient:
- Power greens - 1 pack
To pressure cook:
- Moong dal/Toor dal - ⅓ cup
- Garlic cloves - 2
- Asafoetida - Generous pinch
- Turmeric Powder - ⅛ tsp
- Sesame oil - ¼ tsp
To temper:
- Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
- Mustard seeds - ⅛ tsp
- Urad dal - ½ tsp
- Cumin seeds/Jeera - ¼ tsp
- Asafoetida - Generous pinch
- Onion - 1 small
- Tomato - 1 small
Spices:
- Sambar powder - 1 tsp or more(see notes section)
- Salt - 1 tsp or as required
To grind(optional):
- Coconut - 2 tbsp
- Cumin seeds - ¼ tsp
- Peppercorns - 6
- Dry red chillies - 1 or 2
Instructions
- Wash and soak ⅓ cup dal for 15 to 20 mins.
- In a pressure cooker, add soaked dal, 2 garlic cloves, generous pinches of turmeric powder and asafoetida, along with 1 cup water and ¼ tsp sesame oil.
- Pressure cook for 3 to 5 whistles in medium-high flame.
- In a dry pan, add 1 tbsp coconut oil.
- Once oil is hot, add mustard seeds.
- Once seeds splutter, simmer and add urad dal.
- Once dal starts to change color, add cumin seeds.
- Once cumin slightly starts to change color(do not darken/burn), add chopped onions and bring the flame to medium heat and stir fry.
- Once onions are fried, add chopped tomato along with a pinch of turmeric powder, salt and stir fry.
- Once tomato turns mushy, add sambar powder/chilli powder and give a quick stir.
- Add chopped power greens and stir cook for 5 mins in open pan.
- Open pressure cooker and mash the cooked dal using potato/dal masher or just using thick bottomed ladle.
- Pour cooked and mashed dal into greens cooked pan. Rinse the cooker with little water and add. Add required salt and mix well.
- Let it boil for 5 mins without lid. Switch off once desired consistency is reached. Note that kootu will thicken over time.
- If you wish to add coconut paste, grind 2 tbsp coconut, ¼ tsp cumin seeds, 6 peppercorns and 1 or 2 dry red chillies as per your spice level. First grind without water and then add water to grind to smooth paste.
- Add coconut paste along with dal and let it boil for 5 to 6 minutes without lid. Switch off once desired consistency is reached. Note that kootu will thicken over time.
Notes
1.You shall use Toor dal or moong dal and the taste will differ accordingly, yet both will taste good.
2.Coconut oil tenders nice flavor to the dish. But you shall replace with any cooking oil, if you want to avoid coconut oil.
3.If you are not using coconut paste (that includes red chillies), increase the sambar powder to compensate the spice level.
4.Increase or decrease sambar powder as per your spice level.
5.In place of sambar powder, you shall add plain chilli powder too.
6.If you are making this kootu in the morning for lunch, make it lil runny as it will thicken over time.
2.Coconut oil tenders nice flavor to the dish. But you shall replace with any cooking oil, if you want to avoid coconut oil.
3.If you are not using coconut paste (that includes red chillies), increase the sambar powder to compensate the spice level.
4.Increase or decrease sambar powder as per your spice level.
5.In place of sambar powder, you shall add plain chilli powder too.
6.If you are making this kootu in the morning for lunch, make it lil runny as it will thicken over time.
Power greens kootu can be made thick or thin as per your liking. It can be served to mix with rice, or it can be served as a side-dish for rice served with tamarind-based curries like garlic curry(link), bittergourd curry(link), cowpeas curry(link). Power greens kootu can be served as a side dish for chapathi/roti as well.
Leave a Reply