Beet Greens in Spicy Yogurt Sauce (Mor Kootu)
Beet greens are versatile like spinach, it can be used in so many different ways. Yesterday I tried it in the traditional “Mor Kootu” recipe. “Mor” is the Tamil word for Buttermilk and Kootu or Koottu refers to a dish with stew like consistency. Koottu can either be prepared with a combination of vegetables and lentils (like toor daal, channa daal or moong dasl) or without any lentils. This Mor Kootu falls in the latter category.
Beet greens are cooked well and mixed together with a spicy yogurt/curd sauce. It is served as an accompaniment for rice and is also a very good side dish for Adai. Mor Kootu is generally prepared using any greens, chow chow (chayote squash), green cabbage.
For Tempering:
2. I pressure cooked the beet leaves and beet stems together. Add water just enough to cover the greens and little salt too. I left it for 2 whistles.
3. Now grind together the coconut, cumin, chillies, besan. Add little water if required.
4. Mix this mixture with the yogurt and add enough water. This should be in the consistency of pancake batter or even thinner.
5. In a saucepan add the cooked greens, salt and yogurt sauce. Remove the pan from the stove after the first boil.
6. Add coconut oil in a small frying pan. Once it heats add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Once it splutters pour this in the kootu.
I’m submitting this to Sunshine Mom’s FIC - Green event.
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Tags: beet greens, besan, chickpea flour, coconut oil, cumin, curry leaves, green chillies, mustard seeds, salt, turmeric powder, yogurt
September 28th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Madhuram,
My son is allergic to besan. What would be a good substitute for besan flour? Or,I guess, I could do this with lentils. Also, which coconut oil did you use?
Anjali, besan is not a must in this recipe. It’s used to just thicken the consistency of the kootu. You can omit it or use rice flour instead. I use the Parachute brand coconut oil.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Ooh, this is a very healthy kootu! So tempting picture.
September 28th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
wow! lovely girl…u come with so many varieties…luv it
September 28th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
That looks so nutritous! now, I got to find the beet greens!
So, how exactly do they taste? Like regular Keerai?
I get beets with the greens in the regular grocery store. Usually it’s organic. Also beet greens tastes very much like spinach.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I saw this moor kootu in Tamil magazine
Looks different and delicous too 
October 1st, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Madhuram, it (WWPF) should be available in any normal grocery store in the flour section, if not try the Whole foods market. They surely have it, at least in the bulk section.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 am
All these days I used to discard the beet greens!! Thanks for the recipe and sending it to FIC - next time I will use the greens for kootu or molagootal!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:52 am
This sounds like a tasty way to get greens in :). I would love to include your recipe in our pre-loaded Demy, the first and only digital recipe reader. Please email sophiekiblogger@gmail.com if you’re interested.
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Thanks!