Multi-vegetable kootu/gravy for poori / Mixed vegetable kootu for poori

For most of us Poori is with aloo/potato masala, but for us in our family, poori is with this multi-vegetable kootu. Such is the taste of this kootu and it goes awesomely well with pooris and chappathis. I do not know who conceptualized this kootu, but I have seen both my maternal and paternal grandmom make it and has been definitely carried on to their posterity.

Ingredients:

Cabbage                                                           100 gms (mandatory)
Radish (white long ones)                                   100 gms (mandatory)
Carrot                                                                75 gms (mandatory)
Green Beans                                                     100 gms (mandatory)
Beetroot                                                           100 gms (mandatory)
Onion                                                                  1 big one ( optional)
Mung dhal/Payathamparuppu                                 1 cup
Turmeric powder                                                   1/2 tsp
Salt                                                                  As needed
Ghee                                                                      1 tsp

Powder to grind:

Grated fresh coconut shreddings/Dessicated coconut powder                 1 tblspn/ 1 tsp
Cumin seeds                                                                                     1 tsp
Red chillies                                                                                       1 nos
Black pepper (whole)                                                                         1 tsp


Method

1. Dice all the veggies as small as you can as one would normally for kootu.
2. Simultaneously, pressure cook mung dhal/payathamparuppu with turmeric powder and water to a mashy consistency
3. Boil all veggies in a saucepan with water just enough to immerse them. Cook until soft.
4. Add the cooked dhal to it, mix well and add salt.
5. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.
6. Grind all the ingredients in the powder to grind section, to a fine powder.
7. Mix them well with the gravy and bring the heat to low.
8. Let the kootu come to a boil. Switch off the stove.
9. Add a teaspoon of ghee to the top and mix well immediately for the most maddening aroma and taste..

Mixed vegetable kootu is ready to be had with pooris and chappathis. It goes very well with rice and papad and achar/oorugai too. When you make this kootu, please do make it in a large saucepan for a household, as it is had in huge amounts. :) We do not temper anything for this kootu.