Kootu recipe | How to make Karnataka style mixed veg sambar
By Latha on December 22nd, 2023
Kootu or mixed veg sambar recipe explained with step by step pictures and a video. This is a Karnataka style or South Indian style traditional sambar generally prepared during events. Tarakari kootu is prepared using mixed vegetables, dal, coconut and fresh ground masala. This is a very tasty and healthy sambar recipe prepared in Karnataka.
Mixed vegetables are used in this kootu sambar. And I have used potato, pumpkin, carrot, beans, green peas and tomato. However you can use any vegetable of your choice. Cucumber, long beans, ashgourd and Ivy gourd can be used too.
Generally kootu is without onion-garlic. These no-onion and no-garlic recipes are called as satvika recipes. You can find many "satvika" recipes on this website. Also I have added jaggery in this recipe. Some people like jaggery in sambar but some people don't prefer it. What I suggest is adjust the jaggery as per your taste but don't skip it. You can adjust tamarind and salt also as per your taste.
If you are looking for more sambar recipes then do check my menaskai, basale soppu sambar, snakegourd kootu, amaranthus or harive soppina huli, dill leaves rasam, bendekayi kayirasa, massoppu, yellow cucumber sambar, tomato rasam, recipes from doddapatre and okra sambar recipes.
I have made a video on this kootu recipe with Kannada narration, which I have embedded it below.
Preparation time: 15 min
Cooking time: 30 min
Serves: 4
Ingredients: (measuring cup used = 240ml)
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (refer description)
- 1 large tomato
- 1/2 cup toor dal
- 1/4 cup peanuts
- Big pinch turmeric powder
- 3 tsp crystal salt (or as per your taste)
- 1 tsp jaggery (optional but recommended)
- One gooseberry sized tamarind
Ingredients for masala: (measuring cup used = 240ml)
- 1/2 cup grated coconut
- 5 red chillies
- 1 tsp gram dal
- 2 tsp urad dal
- 2 tsp coriander seeds
- 1/2 tsp jeera or cumin seeds
- 8 - 10 fenugreek seeds
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Big pinch of asafoetida
- 2 cm length cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp cooking oil
- Few curry leaves
Ingredients for tempering:
- 1 red chili
- 5 - 6 curry leaves
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp ghee or cooking oil
Instruction for making kootu:
- Take toor dal and peanuts in a pressure cooker and rinse.
- Cook until soft by adding turmeric powder, few drops of oil and required water.
- To prepare masala, heat a tsp of oil in a pan. Add in red chillies, gram dal and urad dal. Fry until dals turn slightly brown.
- Followed by add in coriander seeds, cumin seeds, methi seeds, black pepper and cinnamon. Continue frying under low medium flame until dals turn brown.
- Add asafotida and poppy seeds. Fry them for a while.
- At the end add in curry leaves and grated coconut.
- Fry until coconut turns slightly brown.
- Wait until warm. Grind it into a fine paste by adding required water. Keep it aside.
- Chop the vegetables and keep it ready.
- In a cooker or a container, heat 1 tbsp of oil. Add the mixed vegetables and fry them for a minute.
- Add in chopped tomato and fry for a minute .
- Add in a tsp of salt and tamarind juice as per taste.
- Add in required water and cook until soft.
- Then add the ground masala. Also add required water. Bring it to a boil.
- Add in cooked dal and peanuts.
- Add in salt.
- Also add in jaggery. Adjust the jaggery as per your taste. But do not skip it.
- Mix it well and bring it to boil.
- Temper it with ghee, red chili, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Serve tasty kootu or mixed veg sambar recipe with hot rice or with breakfast.
Dear reader, We have a Kannada version of this recipe. Click here to read this recipe in Kannada.
Dear Reader,
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