Chow-Chow Poriyal / Chayote Curry

Chow-Chow Poriyal / Chayote Curry

I wonder how many of you like the chow-chow or chayote. Those who don't like this vegetable.. try this recipe. You will start liking it. Actually I never knew how to cook it tastefully. I used to make kootu/dhal with it. That's all. This recipe, I came across in an monthly women's Tamil magazine. First time I tried this recipe as side dish with kara kuzhambu. It was such a great balance of taste with kara kuzhambu. You all too should try this poriyal and tell me how did it come out.

This chow-chow poriyal is a very easy and simple dish you can do it in no time. Such a time saver. Healthy vegetable. Most of the time cheaper than other vegetables. 

Now, do you know how to pick the right chow-chow? If not.. I will be happy to tell you. With your nails, just prick the vegetable. If your nails pass through easily then it is nice and tender one and good to buy. If it is older chow-chow and fibrous, then it will be hard for your nail to pass. Same test goes good for bottle gourd (sorakkai) and turnips (noolkol).

Ingredients:

• chow-chow - 500 grams
• onion - 1 medium
• green chillies - 3
• turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• coconut gratings - 1/4 cup
• fried gram - 1/4 cup
• mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• urad dhal - 1/2 teaspoon
• asafoetida - 1 pinch
• curry leaves - 2 sprigs
• coriander leaves - for garnish
• salt as required
• oil - 2 tablespoons

Procedure:

• wash, peel and cut the chow-chow into small dices.
• run the grated coconut in the mixer and make a sort of coarse wet powder. add fried gram along with it now and run the mixer again. now you get a wet powder of coconut and fried gram. keep this aside.
• heat oil in a kadai. add the mustard seeds, urad dhal, asafoetida and curry leaves. let it splutter.
• add the chopped onions and green chillies. 
• saute few seconds till the onions turn transparent.
• now add diced chow-chow and stir.
• add salt and turmeric powder. give a good mix.
• sprinkle some water and cover the kadai.
• let it cook for another 10 minutes.
• after ten minutes open the kadai and cook till all the water evaporates.
• now once the water is gone, add the coconut-fried gram powder and stir finally
• stir so that the vegetable is well coated with the coconut powder.
• sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves and turn off the stove.
• serve it hot with kara kuzhambu and white rice.

Happy cooking !!