Snake gourd chana dal recipe, also known as Pudalangai Kootu, is a traditional Tamil Nadu dish made with tender snake gourd pieces (podalangai) and soaked chana dal (kadalai paruppu). This homestyle curry is lightly spiced with turmeric powder, sambar powder, curry leaves, and tempered with mustard seeds and urad dal for a comforting South Indian flavor.
It’s a wholesome side dish that pairs beautifully with hot steamed rice, curd rice, or even chapati. If you are looking for a healthy and quick recipe that is packed with protein and fiber, this snake gourd recipe is perfect for everyday cooking.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for this Tamil-style snake gourd kootu (no measurements yet):
- Snake gourd
- Chana dal (kadalai paruppu / bengal gram)
- Curry leaves
- Green chillies
- Dry red chillies
- Mustard seeds
- Urad dal
- Sambar powder
- Turmeric powder
- Coriander leaves
- Oil
- Salt
- Fresh coconut (optional, for garnish)
refer to recipe card for details.
Step by step instructions
Step 1 – Preparing snake gourd – Wash and pat dry fresh snake gourd. These are long, green vegetables with white stripes, commonly used in South Indian cooking.
Step 2 – Cutting snake gourd – Slice the snake gourd lengthwise and remove any mature seeds before chopping into small half-moon pieces.
Step 3 – Tempering spices:Heat oil, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, urad dal, and soaked chana dal. Sauté until aromatic and slightly golden.Chana dal, mustard seeds, and curry leaves tempering in hot oil.
Step 4 – Adding snake gourd– Add the chopped snake gourd pieces and mix well with the tempering.
Step 5 – Spicing the dish
Sprinkle turmeric powder, sambar powder, and salt. Stir and cook on medium heat with a little water until tender.
Step 6 – Final dish
Once the dal is soft and snake gourd is cooked, garnish with fresh coconut and coriander leaves. Serve warm with hot rice or curd rice.
Snake Gourd Chana Dal (Pudalangai Kootu)
Ingredients
- 2 cups snake gourd chopped into small pieces
- ¼ cup chana dal soaked for 30 minutes
- 2 tsp oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- ½ tsp urad dal
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1 –2 green chillies slit
- 1 dry red chilli
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp sambar powder or red chilli powder
- ½ cup grated coconut optional
- Salt to taste
- 1–1½ cups water
- Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and chop snake gourd into small pieces. Soak chana dal in enough water for 30 minutes.
- Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, green chilli, and dry red chilli. Sauté until fragrant.
- Add soaked chana dal and stir for 2–3 minutes.
- Add chopped snake gourd pieces, turmeric powder, sambar powder, and salt. Mix well.
- Pour 1 cup of water, cover, and cook on medium heat until both snake gourd and dal turn soft (10–12 minutes). Add more water if needed.
- Once cooked, sprinkle grated coconut and coriander leaves. Mix gently.
- Serve hot snake gourd kootu with steamed rice, curd rice, or as a side with chapati.
Variations
- Moong dal variation: Replace chana dal with moong dal or toor dal for a softer texture.
- Snake gourd poriyal: Skip dal and make it a simple stir fry with coconut.
- Mixed veggie kootu: Add ridge gourd, chow chow, or bottle gourd along with snake gourd.
- Spicier version: Add red chilli powder instead of sambar powder.
Substitutions
- If snake gourd is unavailable, substitute with ridge gourd, chow chow (chayote), or cabbage kootu.
- For a no-coconut version, garnish with coriander leaves alone.
- For a lighter side dish, reduce dal and add more snake gourd.
FAQ
Yes, you can pressure cook snake gourd with soaked chana dal for 2 whistles using a cup of water. This saves cooking time.
Store cooled kootu in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat with a little water before serving.
It pairs best with hot rice, curd rice, or even as a side dish with chapati.
Conclusion
Snake gourd chana dal, or Pudalangai Kootu, is a wholesome and traditional Tamil Nadu snake gourd recipe that balances taste, nutrition, and ease of cooking. Whether made in a pressure cooker or pan, this snake gourd stir fry with dal is a comforting side dish for everyday meals. Try it with hot steamed rice or enjoy with curd rice for a complete South Indian experience.
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