Cauliflower Stalk Curry - Kootu


Delicious Cauliflower Stalk Kootu!
This is a recipe from my mother-in-law's
cookbook. Whenever I used to cook cauliflower in India my grandma used to tell me to cook even the stalk and leaves as they also taste good. But I never cooked the stalk, went to thrash most of the time. When my mother-in-law visited us she used to cut the stalk, refrigerate it and cook it the next day along with Channa dal. The stalk tasted crunchy and I had one more variety of dish to relish with chapati or rice.



Preparation time: 5 min
Cauliflower stalk and leaves

Cooking time: 15 min
Serving size: 2

Ingredients
  • Cauliflower stalks - 1 cup
  • Channa Dal - 1/2 cup
  • Onion - 1/2
  • Green chillies - 1 
  • Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
  • Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
  • Urad dal - 1/4 tsp
  • Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  • Chilli dhania(or Sambar) powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves - few
    Chop the stalk and pressure cook the dal
  • Oil for seasoning
  • Salt to taste 
  • Coriander leaves few

Preparation
  1. Pressure cook channa dal for 3 whistles.
  2. Chop the cauliflower stalk and leaves into small pieces.
  3. Chop the onions.
Cooking
  1. Place a skillet on medium heat. Add 3 tsp of oil and when it is warm add mustard seeds.
  2. Once the mustard seeds splutter, add the green chilli(slit longitudinally), urad dal, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and curry leaves. Saute it for 10 seconds.
  3. To the sauteed spices add the chopped onions and saute for 30 seconds until it is light golden in color.
  4. Add the chopped cauliflower stalk to the sauteed onion and a little bit of salt and saute for 10 seconds.
  5. Cook covered on low heat for 2 minutes.
  6. After about 2 minutes, when the stalk are half cooked or they turn golden brown, add the turmeric powder, chilli dhania powder and saute for 10 seconds.
  7. Add the cooked dal, 1/2 cup of water and required amount of salt and cook for another 2 minutes or until the masala/spices blend with the dal. 
  8. Make sure the curry is not too watery.
  9. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve as side for chapati or rice. 
    10. Cook on low-medium heat
    Cook until spices blend with curry





Nutritional facts

Cauliflower stalk and leaves are very rich in
Cauliflower Stalk Kootu ready to be served!
vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid and fiber. They aid in digestion, improve the immune system in the body and help to detoxify the liver. Chana dal is rich in protein, needed to rejuvenate the cells in our body. Onions are not only good detoxifiers, they also stimulate amino acids to brain and nervous system. The vitamin A in green chillies are good for the health of eye and skin. For health benefits of spices and herbs used refer Essential Spices for Healthy Cooking and Herbs for Cooking and their Health Benefits.

Not very many of us would have given a thought to use the cauliflower stalk and leaves. We generally tend to throw it away. For a change try this recipe and I am sure you'll like the taste. Let me know how you like it.....
Enjoy with chapati or rice!

You may also be interested in these recipes:

Chana Dal Curry Or Vada Curry 

Instant Rava Oats Idli 

Poondu Kozhambu Or Garlic Curry



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