Surakkai (bottle Gourd) Kootu

Ingredients :

Surakkai - 1 small (equivalent to 1/4 kg)
Moong Dal - 1/2 cup (soaked in water for half an hour)
Water - 1 cup
Onion - 1 (chopped)
Green Chilli - 3 (or as required)
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup
Fennel seeds - 1 teaspoon
Curry Leaves - few strands
Oil - 1 teaspoon
Vadagam - 1 teaspoon (optional)

Method :

1. Peel the skin of the surakkai and cut into small pieces
2. In a kadai , add water and moong dal and boil for 5 minutes.
3. Add onion and surakkai pieces along with salt and let it boil for 10 minutes. Add water if required
4. Grind coconut and green chilli to a fine paste. Now add fennel seeds and grind for few seconds only. Fennel seeds need not be ground finely
5. Add the ground mixture to the kootu.
6. Season vadagam and curry leaves and add to the kootu. Switch off and serve hot
7. Surakkai kootu mixed with plain rice and ghee will be delicious.

Notes:
This veggie is supposed to be good for feeding mothers