Pongal Kootu is a tongue-tickling mixed vegetable curry made during Makar Sankaranthi or Pongal in South India. It is made with local vegetables that are in season at the cusp of winter and spring.
This curry brings together veggies and beans of different textures and flavours, cooked with tamarind pulp and dal, and flavoured with an aromatic and flavourful paste of roasted spices and coconut.
Although you can enjoy this Pongal Kootu immediately after preparation, it gets better and better as it cools down, as the veggies soak up the flavours of the spice paste and the kootu thickens to a curry-like consistency.
You can cook it in an earthen pot if you have one. It tastes great with hot rice or dosas , and is a classic combination for Ven Pongal and Chakkrai Pongal!
Try other South Indian recipes like Masala Vadas or Ginger Pachdi .