• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I camp in my kitchen
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Follow me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
  • Follow me

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Delicious-Sides » Kootu Varieties » Malabar Vellari & Chickpeas Kootu | Yellow Cucumber Kootu

    Malabar Vellari & Chickpeas Kootu | Yellow Cucumber Kootu

    Apr 27, 2021 · Modified: May 21, 2021 by Priya_Srinivasan ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Malabar vellari & chickpeas kootu, a south-indian style dal made with Indian yellow cucumber, chickpeas and freshly ground spice with coconut.

    Vellari & chickpeas kootu

    What is Kootu

    Kootu (Tamil:கூட்டு) is a Tamil word means to add, combine, mix. In the dish, vegetables are combined with lentils to make the dish kootu. Not only vegetables, you can combine legumes like chickpeas, black-eyed peas, edible flowers etc to make kootu.

    I have quite a few varieties of kootu in my blog, ashgourd kootu with masoor dal, zucchini kootu etc. This drumstick flowers kootu is a delicacy made with fresh drumstick flowers/moringa blossoms when they are in season.

    An elaborate South-indian thali always includes kootu. A festive thali has 2 dry curries, 1 kootu along with sambar, rasam, and of course payasam and vadai. Like this Tamil year Lunch

    Tamil new year lunch

    Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot

    Pressure cooker is a blessing when making kootu. Kootu is an easy to cook dish. Just dump everything in the pressure cooker and cook it for 4-5 whistles. It gets done in literally few minutes. Recently I have started using my Instant Pot too for the making kootu. With IP, I cook ⅔ things at the same time.

    Since it takes very less time, it is my personal favorite. I make kootu every day. Kootu and rasam is our regular lunch. Keerai kootu is my lil ones and my personal favorite, so i happily include a greens kootu in my thali regularly.

    If you are in Instagram and follow my handle I Camp in my Kitchen or my #tag #icampinmykitchenlunch, you will know what I say. My everyday lunch thali, contains a kootu, dry curry and rice. Interestingly, I have posted 84 lunch thali’s under this tag. So, if at all you need any inspiration for lunch, do check my page.

    #icampinmykitchenlunch

    The Ingredients

    • The vegetables, for today’s kootu i have used malabar vellari/Indian yellow cucumber, the same kootu can be done with other vegetables like cabbage, ashgourd, chayote etc.
    • Dal, I have used a combination of moong and masoor dal in my kootu recipe today. You can use a combination or just one dal.
    • Legume, i have use brown chickpeas in this kootu today. You can replace it normal chickpeas or any other legume.
    • Spices, I have made fresh spice mix using cumin, coriander, pepper, tuvar dal, chilies and coconut for this kootu. I usually make kootu with my Kootu podi, which is a handy spice to make kootu everyday.
    • Tempering, the most important part of Indian cooking, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and red chilies along with curry leaves is used.
    • I served this part of my lunch thali along with broccoli stir-fry and paruppu rasam.
    South Indian Lunch #5

    Step by Step instructions to make Vellari Kootu

    Please check recipe card below for exact measurements of each ingredient used and also for the detailed instructions

    • Wash and soak the lentils in water for 10 minutes. Wash, peel, remove the seeds and chop the indian cucumber into cubes. The chickpeas are presoaked overnight. I keep a pack of soaked legumes in my freezer so i have used it in the recipe.
    • Heat a pressure cooker with oil, splutter mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chili, hing and curry leaves, saute.
    vellari kootu making steps
    • Add chopped tomatoes to this and saute. Dump the chopped vellari/yellow cucumber to this and saute for minute.
    • Drain and add the dal, and the presoaked legumes to this and mix well. Add 2-3 cups of water.
    malabar vellari chickpeas kootu making
    • Take the spices mentioned in a mixer jar and grind it to a paste with ¼ cup water. Add this spice paste to the kootu. Add salt, mix well and close the lid and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles.
    • Let the pressure fall on its own, open the cooker, mix well and serve it along with rice.

    If you have tried this recipe and like it, give it a star rating or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #icampinmmykitchen and tagging me @priyasrinivasan.
    You could follow me and my recipes on  Facebook |  Instagram  | Pinterest  | twitter

    More Kootu Recipes

    • Vazhaipoo Puli Kootu |Pressure Cooker Recipe | South Indian Lunch Thali #7
    • Zucchini Chana Dal Kootu | Instant Pot Recipe
    • Keerai Kootu | Amaranth Dal | South Indian Lunch #2
    • Paruppu Keerai Kootu |How to make Keerai Kootu

    Recipe

    Vellari Kootu

    Malabar Vellari & Chickpeas Kootu | Yellow Cucumber Kootu

    Malabar vellari & chickpeas kootu, a south-indian style dal made with Indian yellow cucumber, chickpeas and freshly ground spice with coconut.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Asian, Indian, South-Indian
    Keyword: chickpeas kootu, healthy kootu, How to make Kootu, How to make kootu in pressure cooker, Kootu recipe, Kootu with vegetables, lentils and legumes, Pressure cooker recipe, Simple kootu
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories:

    Equipment

    • Pressure cooker

    Ingredients

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups chopped malabar vellari/Indian yellow cucumber
    • 1 no medium sized tomato chopped
    • ½ cup soaked chickpeas i have used brown
    • ½ cup Moong dal/split green gram
    • ½ cup Masoor dal/Split red lentil
    • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste

    To Grind

    • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds/dhaniya
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera
    • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns/milagu
    • 1 teaspoon tuvar dal/split pigeon peas
    • ⅓ cup coconut fresh
    • 2 nos green chilies
    • few curry leaves

    Tempering

    • 2 teaspoon oil
    • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
    • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 2 nos red chilies
    • ⅛ teaspoon hing/asafoetida
    • few curry leaves

    Instructions

    • Wash and soak the dal in water for 10 minutes. While the dal is soaking, wash, peel and chop the vellari/yellow cucumber into cubes.
    • Take the ingredients given under 'To grind' and grind it to a fine paste in a mixer jar, using ¼ cup of water.
    • Heat a pressure cooker with oil given under 'tempering', splutter mustard seeds, cumin seeds, thrown in red chilies, hing and curry leaves.
    • Add the chopped tomatoes and saute for a minute, add the chopped vellari/indian cucumber and saute.
    • To this now add drained dal and chickpeas, Mix well. Add 3-4 cups of water, the vegetable should be covered with water, that is quantity we are looking for.
    • To this now add the ground paste, add ¼ cup water to the mixer jar, shake and add that water to the cooker. Add salt, mix well.
    • Close the lid of the pressure cooker, let it cook for 3-4 whistles. I sometimes allow 5 whistles too. Let the pressure fall on its own.
    • Once the pressure falls, open the cooker, be careful of the gust of steam. Mix well. Serve this delicious kootu with rice and a generous drizzle of ghee.
    • Any leftover kootu can be refrigerated for just a day. Since the kootu is made of dal and coconut, there is a high chance of it getting spoiled, if left outside for a long, especially in hot and humid climates.

    Disclaimer

    I m not a Doctor or a Nutritionist The Nutrition information provided above comes from the plugin and is only an estimate.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @Icampinmykitchen or #icampinmykitchen
    For Recipe VideosSubscribe & Follow @Icampinmykitchen on Youtube

    Serve this delicious vellari kootu with rice and a drizzle of ghee. Enjoy it hot for the warm feeling. It is a wonderful recipe to pack as lunch too.

    This vellari kootu can also be served with roti. We love to pair roti and kootu for our lunch.

    Do you like the Recipe? PIN IT

    Vellari kootu pin

    More Kootu Varieties

    • Vellari Araichuvita kootu | Yellow Cucumber Kootu with fresh masala
    • White onion Kootu – Vellai Vengayam Kootu
    • Cabbage Kootu -In Pressure Cooker
    • Murungai Poo Kootu/Drumstick Blossom Kootu/Moringa Flower Dal

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Swathi

      May 25, 2013 at 4:27 am

      Delicious kootu with cucumber Priya.

      Reply
    2. Chef Mireille

      May 25, 2013 at 5:19 am

      looks so delicious . love to have this with rice

      Reply
    3. Rafeeda AR

      May 25, 2013 at 8:35 am

      Yummy kootu…

      Reply
    4. The Pumpkin Farm

      May 25, 2013 at 10:25 am

      new kind for me, must refershing with cucumber addition, bookmarking

      Reply
    5. Harini R

      May 25, 2013 at 2:21 pm

      I have never tried adding chickpeas to kootu..sounds very yumm.

      Reply
    6. Priya Suresh

      May 26, 2013 at 9:29 am

      Interesting addition of chickpeas in kootu..Healthy and very tempting kootu.

      Reply
    7. Corporate to Kitchen

      May 27, 2013 at 7:07 am

      Now I know the meaning of kootu. I like this vegetable & in coorg they make many dishes with vellari

      Reply
    8. Manju

      May 27, 2013 at 5:11 pm

      Interesting to know the addition of chickpeas in kootu, have you added tomatoes too. Found something like that in picture.

      Reply
      • Priya_Srinivasan

        May 28, 2013 at 7:45 am

        Thanks Manju, I added tomatoes n forgot to mention it in the post. updated it now!!!

        Reply
    9. Srivalli

      May 28, 2013 at 8:36 am

      Priya, that picture looks so inviting..I love all sorts of kootus, so will be bookmarking all your recipes..

      Reply
    10. Pavani

      May 28, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      That is one yummy looking kootu..

      Reply
    11. cookingwithsapana

      October 02, 2019 at 6:34 pm

      I have never used the yellow cucumber in my recipes, I guess it would taste like courgette? Will look for it in the next Indian grocery shopping. Very interesting kootu recipe.

      Reply
    12. Radha

      May 07, 2021 at 2:59 am

      This is a great kootu. This is perfect with bowl of rasam rice.

      Reply
    13. Srivalli Jetti

      May 07, 2021 at 6:44 am

      5 stars
      The kootu is such a wholesome dish and makes the meal so filling and satisfying…your thali collection looks fantastic Priya..

      Reply
    14. NARMADHA

      May 09, 2021 at 6:07 am

      5 stars
      Malabar vellari kootu with freshly grounded masala looks so delicious. Making in a pressure cooker makes it so easy. The entire meal platter looks so inviting.

      Reply
    15. sushma pinjala

      May 14, 2021 at 11:33 pm

      Chickpea kottu looks so yummy

      Reply
    16. Suma Gandlur

      May 18, 2021 at 7:46 am

      5 stars
      I love kootu and the yellow cucumbers must have lend beautiful flavor to your kootu. That lunch thali collection looks amazing.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Newsletter Sign-up

    Get a free e-book containing 5 easy vegetarian recipes.

    Meet the Camper

    Hi, I m Priya Srinivasan, the camper in this kitchen.  Read more.

    Pongal Festival Recipes

    • Multigrain Flakes Pongal | Khara Pongal with Multigrain
    • Couscous Pongal | Couscous Savory Pongal
    • Thinai Sarkarai Pongal|Foxtail Millet Sweet Pongal
    • Varagu Venpongal | Savory Pongal with Millets

    See more

    Soups & Salads

    • Bulgur Salad |Pligourisalata| Vegan Salad
    • Barley Vegetable Soup | How to Make Barley Soup
    • Osaman/Clear Lentil Soup
    • Revithiosoupo|Chickpea Soup – Vegan

    See more

    Sandwich Varieties

    • Pizza Sandwich | Easy Breakfast Recipe
    • Capsicum & Paneer Burger
    • Which Sandwich are you going to make today??
    • Feta Cheese And Mint chutney Wrap

    See More

    Popular Posts

    • Flaxseed ladoo Alsi Pinni | Alsi Ki Pinn...
    • Sesame Ladoo| Til Ladoo |...
    • Avaraikkai Poriyal | Broa...
    • Vegetable Sevai | Rice No...
    • Chocolate & Nuts Lad...
    • Ragi Ladoo | Millet Laddu...
    • Rava Pongal | Semolina Po...
    • Semiya Upma | Vermicelli...
    • Vanilla tutti frutti muffins Vanilla Tutti Frutti Muff...
    • Kashayam Featured image Kashayam | Herbal Tea | H...

    My Recent Video

    https://youtu.be/WgvXECsF4m0

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2020 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

    AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES.

    Privacy Policy