Thuvara ( Black Pigeon Peas ) Kootu Curry

Ingredients:

100 gm thuvara / black pigeon peas

1 big raw plantain / raw banana/ kaya, peeled and cubed

3/4 cup yam/ chena, peeled and cubed

1/2 cup pumpkin / mathanga, peeled and cubed

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 cup grated coconut, for roasting

3 dry red chillies

1 tbsp pepper corns

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

2 sprig curry leaves

1 cup grated coconut, for grinding

1-2 green chillies

1 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp urad dal

salt to taste

2 tbsp coconut oil

Preparation:

1. Soak the thuvara in water for 7 -8 hours or overnight and pressure cook it adding enough water and salt until soft.
2. In a pan, add the cubed raw plantain, yam, pumpkin, turmeric powder and salt and cook adding enough water until they are done.
3. Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in a pan and add 1 cup grated coconut, dry red chillies, pepper corns, cumin seeds and 1 sprig curry leaves and roast over medium flame until it turns brown. Then powder it and keep it aside.
4. Grind 1 cup grated coconut, green chilli and few curry leaves together to a coarse paste adding little water.
5. Add powdered coconut mixture and ground paste to the cooked vegetables and mix well and cook for 5-7 minutes. Adjust the salt and switch off the flame.
6. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds and add urad dal and curry leaves.
7. Add this over the prepared kootu curry and mix well. Serve hot with rice.