Poosanikai puli kootu, a tangy stew made in Instant pot with ash gourd and lentils. Spiced with fresh masala paste, makes it aromatic and flavorful. Pairs perfectly well with steaming hot rice.
Puli kootu | Poosanikari kootu | Kootu made in Instant pot | Instant Pot recipe | How to make kootu in Instant pot | Easy Puli kootu in Pressure cooker | South Indian Kootu recipe | Easy south indian meals | Lunch recipe | Side dish with rice | Sattvic meal | No onion No garlic recipe
Jump to:
- Puli kootu
- Kootu vs Sambar
- Today's Ashgourd Puli Kootu
- Serving Suggestions
- Some Crispy Goodness
- Why You Should Try Ashgourd Puli Kootu:
- Ingredients to make Ashgourd Kootu with Tamarind
- Step by Step Instructions to make Puli Kootu in Instant Pot
- FAQ's
- Poosanikai Puli Kootu | Ashgourd Tamarind Stew | Instant Pot Recipe
Puli kootu
Puli kootu is a traditional South Indian dish, particularly popular in Tamilnadu. The dish is made with a variety of lentils, vegetables, tamarind and seasoned with spices.
It is typically served as a side dish with rice and is known for its spicy and tangy flavor. Amma makes a delicious puli kootu with banana flower and my favorite is this mixed vegetable puli kootu.
Kootu vs Sambar
Kootu and Sambar are essential South Indian dishes distinguished by their unique flavors and textures. Both feature lentils and vegetables, but their preparation and taste differ considerably.
Sambar is a tangy, lentil-based stew made with toor dal, tamarind extract, and sambar powder. Its soupy consistency makes it a popular main dish served with rice, idli, or dosa.
Kootu is a thicker, mildly spiced dish, often made with moong dal or chana dal. Typically featuring a fresh coconut spice paste, kootu may include tamarind. This rich, creamy, and nutritious side dish pairs well with rasam rice or roti.
Today's Ashgourd Puli Kootu
If you’re craving a comforting South Indian dish, this Poosanikai Puli Kootu is just what you need. It’s tangy, wholesome, and packed with flavor.
This quick and easy puli kootu uses tender white pumpkin simmered in a tamarind-based gravy. The combination tuvar dal, moong dal, and chana dal, gives amazing aroma and creaminess to the simple kootu.
This subtly spiced, traditional Tamilnadu -style kootu offers a perfect balance of flavors. It pairs perfectly with steaming hot rice and ghee. It is boys approved.
I served this amazing ashgourd kootu for lunch. The aroma of the kootu drew them to the kitchen. The boys waited patiently as I hastily clicked the lunch plate for the blog.
Serving Suggestions
Ashgourd puli kootu usually is served with rice. If you like slightly thin curries with your roti's, this suits well.
My kids would love Kovaikkai fry or raw banana roast with this simple kootu. If you are like me then you would love this Kadamba poriyal/mixed vegetable curry.
Since this is a puli kootu, a simple tomato rasam along will be a great pair. Or you can try this No cook rasam too.
If you love some salads along, i highly recommend this simple cucumber salad or this refreshing mango salad.
Some Crispy Goodness
Why You Should Try Ashgourd Puli Kootu:
- Nutritious & Fiber-Rich: Packed with fiber and plant-based protein, perfect for balanced everyday meals.
- Traditional South Indian Flavor: Tangy tamarind, mild ashgourd, and freshly ground coconut-spice paste in every bite.
- No Onion, No Garlic: Ideal for vrat days, poojas, or anyone following a sattvic diet.
- Quick & Easy: Comes together with minimal prep—great for weekday cooking or meal prep.
- Versatile Pairing: Tastes great with hot rice, roti, or as part of a South Indian thali.
- Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: Uses everyday pantry staples while delivering comforting depth and taste.
Ingredients to make Ashgourd Kootu with Tamarind
- Vegetables , I have used ashgourd and tomatoes for this delish kootu. You can also use chayote, yam, eggplant along with any legume. Like peanuts, chickpeas etc.
- Dal, mix of split moong dal along with chana dal and tuvar dal is used in this puli kootu.
- Spices,I have used a fresh spice paste made with soaked tamarind, ginger, coconut, coriander, cumin and chilies. You can also use regular sambar podi or kootu podi to make delicious tamarind based kootu.
- Tempering, regular south-indian tempering spices like mustard, hing and curry leaves.
- Garnish , handful of fresh coriander leaves.
Step by Step Instructions to make Puli Kootu in Instant Pot
Please check recipe card below for exact measurements of each ingredient used and also for the detailed instructions
- Measure and prep all the ingredients mentioned and keep it ready.
- Take the dals together, wash and drain 2-3 times with water. Add fresh water and let it soak for 15 minutes minimum.
- Take the ingredients mentioned 'to grind' in a blender jar. Blend it to smooth paste withe ½ cup of water.
- Plug and turn on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Add oil, when hot add the tempering spices. Once the mustard pops, add the chopped ashgourd and tomato to it and mix well.
- To this now add soaked dal with the water. Mix well. Add the freshly ground masala paste.Wash blender jar with ½ cup water and add that to the IP. Add salt and mix well.
- Close the Instant pot, Seal the vent. Cancel saute mode and turn on Pressure cook for 12 minutes. Once done, Let the pressure release normally for 12 minutes then do a quick release. Check the consistency of kootu.
- If you find it to be runny, let it boil in saute mode for 10 minutes. Add fresh coriander leaves to the Kootu and serve it along with rice, papad and curry.
FAQ's
For Kootu generally i prefer moong dal or chana dal alone. But since it is a puli kootu , tamarind based recipe, tuvar dal adds a nice flavor. You can go ahead and use a mix of all 3 dals or use just any one dal too.
Coconut adds a richness and aroma to the kootu recipe. If you have any dietary restrictions you can reduce the amount to 1 tablespoon and add 2-3 soaked almonds or cashews or even chutney dal to the paste.
This puli kootu pairs perfectly well with a dry curry like potato, raw banana or tindli. You can also add a simple rasam to the menu to make it complete.
Definitely yes. You can make it a day ahead and warm it just before serving. This is a great recipe for meal prepping. Stays good for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Poosanikai Puli Kootu | Ashgourd Tamarind Stew | Instant Pot Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped ashgourd/Vella poosanikai
- 1 tomato chopped
- ⅓ cup Moong dal/Pasi paruppu/split green gram dal
- 2 tablespoon Tuvar dal/toor dal/Tuvaram paruppu/split pigeon peas
- 2 tablespoon Chana dal/Split chickpea dal/Gram Dal/Kadalai Paruppu
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
For the fresh kootu masala
- 10 grams tamarind, size of Indian lemon soaked in warm water
- 3 tablespoon freshly grated coconut
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds/dhaniya raw
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera
- 6 round red chilies
- 2 teaspoon shredded ginger 1 inch piece of ginger
- sprig of curry leaf
Tempering
- 1 tablespoon oil i use groundnut oil
- 2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera
- 2 red chilies
- ¼ teaspoon hing/asafoetida
Instructions
- Measure the vegetables, dal and spices and keep it ready on the counter
- Take the dals in a bowl, wash and drain 2-3 times with water. Add 1 cup fresh water and let it soak for 15 minutes minimum.
- While the dal is soaking, let us make the spice paste. Take all ingredients mentioned under 'To grind' in a blender jar. I use my Magic bullet to grind
- Blend the spices to a fine paste with ½ cup water. Keep aside.
- Turn on the Instant pot in Saute mode. Add oil, when hot, add all the spices mentioned under 'Tempering'.
- When mustard pops, add the chopped ashgourd and tomatoes. Mix well.
- Add the soaked dal along with the water. To this add freshly ground masala and mix well.
- Add ½ cup of water to the blender, wash and add that water also to the Instant pot. Add salt to this and mix well.
- The amount of water added until now must be enough for the kootu. The water level should be immersing all the veggies and dal.
- Close the instant pot. Ensure the vent is sealed position. I use Instant pot Duo, so it automatically seals when i close the lid.
- Cancel the saute mode. Turn on Pressure cook and adjust time for 12 minutes. Once done, let the IP release pressure naturally for atleast 10-12 minutes. Then do a Quick pressure release.
- Open and mix the kootu well with a ladle. Check the consistency of the kootu. It shouldn't too thick or too thin.
- If the kootu is too thick, add ½ cup of water and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes. If the kootu is too thin, let it simmer for 12-15 minutes to thicken a little.
- Finally add some fresh coriander leaves and it is ready to serve.
- Serve it with steaming hot rice, a generous dollop of ghee. Add a dry subzi/curry and papad for a complete meal.
Storage Instructions
- Any leftover kootu can be refrigerated in an air-tight container for 2-3 days.
- While serving from the refrigerator, remove only the amount you will consume for that time, reheat and serve it warm.
To Make this Kootu in Pressure cooker
- Follow the same steps in pressure cooker. Cook for 4-5 whistles. Once done, let the pressure drop on its own. Adjust consistency and serve.
Notes
- This recipe made in Instant pot takes 12 minutes to cook and 12 minutes minimum for the IP to release pressure naturally.
- Taking the timing needed to heat the IP and for it to reach the full pressure, I have listed the total time as 50 minutes. You can add or subtract 10 minutes to this. So this entire recipe might take anywhere between 50-60 minutes in total.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
I m not a Doctor or a Nutritionist The Nutrition information provided above comes from the plugin and is only an estimate.
Champa
Very nice.
Reshmi Mahesh
Delicious kootu...yum..
Chef Mireille
pumpkin and dal..sounds delish!
Shobha
Yummy kootu..
Priya Suresh
Thick kootu looks fabulous,wish to have with some hot spicy side dish.
Shama Nagarajan
delicious...Hai dear ....inviting u to join grapes recipes event here : http://easy2cookrecipes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/fruit-of-month-grapes-event_02.html
Nalini's Kitchen
Delicious kootu ...nice recipe.
Vardhini
Thali looks yummy. Healthy kootu.
Vardhini
CooksJoy
Suma Gandlur
The kootu looks yum. Haven't seen these oval shaped plates in years.:)
Jayanthi
Nice one....could go well with roti too.
Pavani
Nice variation with ash gourd and masoor dal. Will try next time I get my hands on some ash gourd.
The Pumpkin Farm
lovely combination and the color looks good
vaishali sabnani
I guess I have to get familiar with this food...I have yet to cook ash gourd!!.. guess every state has its own special veggies.
Gayathri Kumar
Never tried kootu with masoor dhal. This looks absolutely delicious...
Harini R
Looks absolutely delicious! Nice spread out meal too!
Cool Lassi(e)
Great looking thali and the pumpkin kootu looks fabulous!
Aarthi
yummy looking curry
Padmajha
My favorite kootu.Looks tempting..