Pacha Thakkali Koottu

I got introduced to this recipe from my MIL. Since she grows tomatoes in her backyard, she gets nice green colour unripe tomatoes often. Recently when we went on a long drive, we went past acres and acres of land growing tomatoes. I loved the sight. We managed to buy a lot of tomatoes, I dunno the exact weight but I guess probably 20 kgs... So I got a mix of unripe and ripe tomatoes, fresh from the garden. And in summer tomatoes are found in abundance. Is a good time to make pickles using tomatoes.

We have a famous "thakkali thokku" in the southern region. I am planning to prepare the same with the ripen tomatoes and will post the recipe soon. So with the green unripen tomatoes I prepared this pacha thakkali koottu. Its a delicious tangy tasted koottu which goes well with rice or chapathis.



Ingredients:
Pacha thakkali - 500 grams
coconut (grated) - 150 grams
cumin - 3 grams ( 1tsp)
red chillies - 10 grams (3 nos big)
salt - to taste
turmeric powder - 1 tsp

To Temper:
Oil - 25 grams (5 tsp)
mustard - 3 grams (1 tsp)
Curry leaves - few

Method:

• Wash and chop the unripe tomatoes.
• Grind coconut, red chillies, cumin into a coarse paste.
• In a kadai, pour oil and add the mustard seeds. Once mustard splutters add the curry leaves.
• Add the chopped tomatoes, needed salt and turmeric powder. Stir well, cover and cook until the tomatoes are cooked.
• We need not add water since the tomatoes will have water.
• In about 5-7 minutes the tomatoes will get cooked. Now add the ground coconut paste.
• Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes.

Pacha thakkali Koottu is ready!!!  Serve this with rice and dal.

Linking this to celebrate summer hosted by nivedhan's