Chow-Chow Kootu (Chayote Curry)

Chayote which belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, tastes somewhat like a cucumber but has a firm, white flesh with a mild sweet flavor. This is one of my favorite and simple ways of relishing this vegetable....

Ingredients:
2 Chayotes ( peeled and diced)
1/4 cup greengram dhal (pacha payiru / moong dhal)
1/4 cup of kadala paruppu (channa dhal)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
salt
1 tsp sambhar powder
1/4 tsp chilly powder

For tempering: 2 tbsp ghee
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
a sprig curry leaves
a pinch of asafetida

Method:
Pressure cook the dhals (Channa and moong) along with some salt.
Peel the Chayotes, cut into 2 halves, remove the seed and chop into small cubes.
Add salt, turmeric powder, sambhar powder and chilly powder and a cup of water to the chopped chayotes and cook until done (they should still be firm). Strain and keep aside.
In a bowl, stir together the cooked dhals and chayotes and correct salt if necessary.
Heat ghee in a vessel, splutter the mustard seeds and the curry leaves and then the asafetida, pour the dhals chayotte/ mixture, stir well and serve hot as a side dish.
Notes: The above preparartion can be enriched by adding a pasted mixture of a green chilly, a tsp of cumin seeds and 2 spoons of grated coconut at the end of the tempering.