Sorakkai Sweet Kootu & Paal Kootu Recipe – Bottle Gourd Recipes

 I learnt this Sorakkai Kootu recipe ( Suraikai in Tamil, Sorakaya in Telugu, Bottle gourd in English, Lauki in Hindi) from my MIL.Whenever I buy bottle gourd, I prepare this sweet kootu or paal kootu for rice. With vathakuzhambu, it tastes divine. We make this kootu in two ways. One version tastes sweet and the other one is a spicy version. But my vote goes to the sweet version. I love it a lot.!! Try whichever you like. Lets see how to make Sorakkai kootu for rice in 2 different ways.

Sorakkai Kootu – 2 versions

How to make Sorakkai kootu/Bottle gourd kootu recipe

Cuisine: South Indian

Category: Side dish

Serves: Serves 2

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Cook time: 20 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 cup = 250ml Sweet Version Bottle gourd – 1 no (small size) or use half if it is big Green chilli – 1 no ( finely chopped) Salt & water – As needed Powdered Jaggery – 1/4 cup (adjust ) To grind Coconut – 1/4 cup Rice flour – 1 tsp Water – as needed To temper Coconut oil – 2 tsp Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp Urad dal – 1/2 tsp Red chilli – 1 no ( no need to pinch,whole chilli) Curry leaves – a few Milk (optional) to add at the end. Spicy Version Bottle gourd – 1 no (small size) or half if it is big Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp Salt & water – As needed To grind Grated Coconut – 1/4 cup Green chilli – 1 no ( Use 2 nos for spicy kootu) Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp , Rice flour – 1 tsp Water – as needed To temper Coconut oil – 1 tsp Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp Urad dal – 1/2 tsp Red chilly – 1 no ( full , no need to pinch) Curry leaves – a few MILK – 2 tbsp, ADD AT THE END

METHOD

SWEET KOOTU Wash and peel off the outer skin of bottle gourd . Cut into two halves.Now remove the spongy center portion which has seeds. Finely chop the hard portion and add the salt and water. Pressure cook up to one whistle.Meanwhile , grind the grated coconut,green chillies with rice flour adding little water or milk. Now open the cooker and add the powdered jaggery . Mix well. Let it boil for few minutes.Finally add the ground coconut mixture and allow it to thicken .. Add milk at the end if necessary .Temper all the ingredients given above in the same order. Add to kootu .Mix well and serve with Vathakuzhambu. Enjoy ! SPICY KOOTU Wash and peel off the outer skin of bottle gourd . Cut into two halves. Now remove the center portion which has seeds. Finely chop it and add the salt and water. Pressure cook up to one whistle in low flame. Meanwhile , grind the grated coconut with green chilli, cumin seeds, small onion (optional),  rice flour adding little water or milk. Now open the cooker and add the ground coconut mixture and allow it to boil . Add milk at the end if you like it. Temper all the items given above and add to kootu. Enjoy with rice and papad ! For variations, add sambar powder instead of green chillies.