Koottu

Kootu is a cherished traditional dish from South India, particularly renowned in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is essentially a hearty stew made with lentils and vegetables. The term "kootu" derives from the Tamil word meaning "add" highlighting the dish's amalgamation of vegetables and lentils. With its semi-solid consistency, kootu strikes a balance between the soup-like sambhar and drier stir-fries, offering a rich and flavorful experience, thanks to the blend of lentils and coconut.

In a typical South Indian feast, known as Virundhu Sappadu, you'll encounter an array of dishes including boiled rice, sambar, rasam, curd, poriyal, kootu, appalam, pickles, and bananas. While all kootus feature a combination of vegetables and lentils, the variations are numerous. For instance, Poricha Kootu employs urad dal and pepper, while Araichivita Kootu incorporates a freshly ground masala paste made from urad dal, cumin seeds, and coconut.

Another notable variation is Araichivita Sambar, which involves cooking chopped vegetables and toor dal separately before mixing them with a paste made from coconut, Bengal gram, coriander, red chilies, and other spices. This mixture is then seasoned with mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds and served with rice.

These regional variations of kootu showcase the rich diversity of South Indian cuisine, each contributing its own unique twist to the beloved dish.