Chou Chou Koot

Ingredients

 * 2 medium chayote squash
 * ½ cup shredded coconut
 * 2 green chillies, crushed
 * turmeric, to taste
 * salt, to taste
 * mustard
 * 1 red chilli
 * urad dal
 * oil, (seasoning)
 * curry leaves, (seasoning)

Directions

 * 1) Peel skin of squash.
 * 2) Cube.
 * 3) Cook with a little water, turmeric and salt.
 * 4) When done yet firm, add coconut and green chilli mix.
 * 5) Pour seasoning on top.
 * 6) If there's more liquid it becomes kootu, if moist but not liquidy then poduthual.

Variations

 * You can do plantains (raw, green or, if not there, very, very green chiquita bananas) for a vazhakai poduthual/thoran.
 * Also can do red pumpkin/butternut squash similarly.
 * An excellent and quick ckakka thoran is also possible.
 * A thai canned product is green jackfruit, already cooked. Just shred this by hand, prepare seasoning in 5-6 tablespoons oil and toss crushed coconut and green chillies in. salt. Stir well and remove when thoroughly heated through and still moist.
 * This dish needs a fair amount of coconut, and the fresh one is preferred.