Watermelon & Banana Blossom Kootu

If someone says no to any particular vegetable at home, the next time i'll definitely prepare that veggie as kootu, personally i felt its quite a quick and best way to sneak veggies..Fortunately my picky eaters love kootu and this time i tried a rare and delicious combo for making kootu, i used the white part of the watermelon and banana blossom together to prepare this healthy,delicious and beautiful gravy along with a combination of moongdal and channadal, serve this kootu with papads or with any spicy meat dishes as side dish i can definitely say that you will have a wonderful,comforting and absolutely filling lunch or dinner, also since i cooked the veggies along with the dals, none will notice the veggies you used in this yummy kootu..We had this kootu for our lunch with some fried chicken pieces few days back and everyone at home just loved it..

2cups Watermelon white rinds (chopped)
1/2cup Banana Blossom (chopped & soaked in buttermilk)
1/4cup Moongdal(washed)
1/2cup Channadal (washed)
1no Onion (chopped)
2nos Green chillies (slit opened)
1/4tsp Turmeric powder
Few curry leaves
1tsp Mustard seeds, urad dal & cumin seeds
1/4tsp Asafoetida powder
Coriander leaves (chopped)

To grind:
1tbsp Channa dal
2tbsp Coriander seeds
1/4tsp Fenugreek seeds
3nos Dry red chillies
2tbsp Grated coconut

Dry roast the channa dal, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds,grated coconut and dry red chillies and grind them as fine powder, keep aside...

Heat enough oil in a pressure cooker,let splutters the mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds and asafoetida powder, add immediately the chopped onions and slit opened green chillies, saute until the onions turns transculent..now add the watermelon white rinds,banana blossom (strain the buttermilk), salt and turmeric powder, saute for few minutes, add the washed dals and enough water...Pressure cook upto 3 whistles..

Once the steam get released, add the spice powder as per need and curryleaves..bring everything to boil and put off the stove...garnish the coriander leaves and serve hot with rice or rotis...