Ona Sadya Part 3 - Kootu kari

The Ona sadya (traditional feast) series continues...
Today it is Kootu kari, a delightful mixture of raw bananas, yam, and brown chick peas. Easy to make, it is a great accompaniment to steamed rice.

Raw banana (preferably the Kerala Nenthran variety) - 2 Nos
Yam (chena) - 150 gms
Brown chickpeas (karutha kadala) - 150 gms
Chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt to taste
For masala
Grated coconut - 1 cup
Pepper corns - 6-8 Nos
Cumin (jeera) - 1/2 teaspoon
For tempering
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Dry red chillies - 2-3 Nos
Curry leaves - 4 sprigs

Soak chickpeas overnight and pressure cook. Peel and cube raw bananas and yam. Place the cubed vegetables in a thick bottomed skillet and add enough water to submerge it. Add the chilli powder and cook covered. When soft , add the chickpeas. Grind the ingredients for masala and add to vegetables. Heat a little oil and crackle the mustard and fry the curry leaves and dry chillies. Add to the vegetable mixture. Add salt to taste.

For Ona -sadya-part 1 - Aviyal and the Onam legend, check out http://thefootloosechef.blogspot.com/2008/09/ona-sadya-part-1-aviyal.html

For Ona-sadya-part 2- Inji curry, check out http://thefootloosechef.blogspot.com/2008/09/ona-sadya-part-2-inji-curry.html

This is my third entry to Asankhana's Festive food event - Onam celebrations. The event is on at http://asankhana.blogspot.com/2008/09/after-successful-celebration-of-krishna.html