• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Vidhya’s Vegetarian Kitchen logo
  • Home
  • About
    • VVK YouTube Channel
    • Privacy & Copyright Policies
  • Recipes
  • Shop
    • Meal Planner
    • Cookbooks
    • Amazon Shop
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Kootu Varieties » Vellai Poosanikai Kootu | White Pumpkin Kootu

    Vellai Poosanikai Kootu | White Pumpkin Kootu

    Posted on February 24, 2022 · Last Updated on September 13, 2022 · By Srividhya G · 9 Comments

    128 shares
    • Share2
    • Tweet
    • Reddit
    Jump to Recipe Card
    white pumpkin kootu with text overlay for pinterest

    Vellai poosanikai kootu recipe! A simple gravy prepared with white pumpkin, chana dal, and freshly ground spices. Check out how I make white pumpkin kootu with detailed step-wise pictures. 

    vellai poosanikai kootu served in traditional pot placed in a plate

    Kootu – this vegetable and lentil-based gravy is part and parcel of everyday Tamil meals. I have shared quite a few kootu recipes, and now it’s time for another with white pumpkin or, as we say in Tamil, vellai poosanikai.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients required
    • Dietary specifications
    • Variations
    • How to make vellai poosanikai/white pumpkin kootu
    • Recipe notes
    • Explore other kootu recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Vellai poosanikai has a lot of English names – winter melon, ash gourd, or white pumpkin. You can use this vegetable to make sambar, kootu, dry poriyal, and desserts like halwa, more like my zucchini halwa. You can also make soups and fresh juice which is an excellent detox. I will share the recipe soon. It’s one healthy vegetable for sure.

    Ingredients required

    White pumpkin: I have used 500 grams, approx 4 cups of white pumpkin. I usually peel the skin and chop them.
    Chana dal: We usually use a dal for kootu and white pumpkin; chana dal or the desi split chickpeas work well. In Tamil, we call kadalai paruppu.
    For the kootu masala: We need cumin seeds, dried red chilies, ginger(optional), and grated coconut. Fresh or frozen coconut works; if you use frozen coconut, make sure to thaw it to room temperature. 
    To Temper: I highly recommend coconut oil for this kootu, but you can use the oil of your choice. We need some mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, and asafoetida for tempering. 


    We also need ground turmeric, salt, and water, apart from these ingredients. Check the recipe card for detailed measurements. 

    Dietary specifications

    This vellai poosanikai kootu is naturally vegan and nut-free. Also, it’s a kootu recipe without any onion and garlic. Use gluten-free asafoetida for a gluten-free version.

    I have stored this kootu for up to 3 days in the fridge. I usually make kootu as a part of my weekend meal prep.

    You can relish this kootu with plain steamed rice with a side of pickle and papad. Alternatively, you can serve it along with rice, sambar or kuzhambu, or rasam as a sidedish.

    overhead shot of ashgourd kootu served in traditional brasspot

    Variations

    I have shared quite a few kootu recipes on my blog. You can use any of the kootu masalas for this one too. Instead of dried red chilies, you can use green chilies or whole black pepper.

    Check out my chayote squash/chow kootu recipe without coconut to prepare the kootu masala without coconut. You can also try my cauliflower poricha kootu masala for this one.

    Instead of chana dal, you can also use moong dal or toor dal or a mix of dals.

    How to make vellai poosanikai/white pumpkin kootu

    • Rinse the chana dal and take it in a vessel where you plan to make the kootu. Ensure the vessel fits inside the pressure cooker. Add ½ cup of water to the chana dal.
    chana dal rinsed
    • Now add the chopped white pumpkin to it and add the ground turmeric—no need to add more water. Add two cups of water to the pressure cooker and place the white pumpkin vessel inside the pressure cooker. 
    add chopped pumpkin to the chana dal with turmeric
    • Close the pressure cooker and cook for two whistles. Let the pressure subside naturally. 
    cook dal and vegetable
    • Meanwhile, take the coconut, cumin seeds, dried red chilies, and ginger in the mixer jar.
    take the spices to be ground in the mixer jar
    • Add ¼ cup of water and grind it into a smooth paste. 

    ground paste
    • Add this ground mixture to the cooked white pumpkin. And salt too. Mix well, and you might notice the kootu is more watery as the white pumpkin oozes out more water when cooking.
    add the ground paste to the kootu
    • Simmer the kootu in medium-low heat.

    simmer the kootu
    • Turn off the heat as the kootu froths up and thickens a bit.
    simmered and thickened kootu
    • In a separate kadai, heat a tsp of oil, and when the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and urad dal. Let the mustard seeds splutter and add the curry leaves and asafoetida. Let the curry leaves crisp a bit, then turn off the heat.  Add this to the kootu and that’s it the kootu is ready.
    white pumpkin kootu topped with tempering

    Recipe notes

    • Adjust the salt and dried red chilies to taste.
    • Instead of chana dal, you can also use moong dal. 
    • You can also make this kootu in Instant Pot using the pot in pot method, and I have explained the cooking time on my IG reels. Please check it here. 

    Explore other kootu recipes

    • top angle shot of ridge gourd curry in a brass serve ware with a spoon inside
      Peerkangai Kootu Recipe | Ridge Gourd Curry
    • Vazhaithandu Mor Kootu | Plantain Stem Kootu
    • cabbage kootu recipe
      Instant Pot Cabbage Kootu | Easy Muttaikose Kootu
    • square image of green tomato kootu
      Green Tomato Kootu | Raw Tomato Gravy with Coconut

    PS:  If you try this white pumpkin kootu, please don’t forget to comment and rate this recipe. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will get to it ASAP. Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest for more healthy and delicious ideas! Follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook Group for more recipe updates! You can also sign-up for my newsletter for weekly updates.

    📖 Recipe

    white pumpkin kootu served in brassware
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Vellai Poosanikai Kootu | White Pumpkin Kootu

    Vellai poosanikai kootu recipe! A simple gravy prepared with white pumpkin, chana dal, and freshly ground spices. Check out how I make white pumpkin kootu with detailed step-wise pictures.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 137kcal
    Author: Srividhya G

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients

    Measurement Details: 1 cup = 240ml; 1 tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp= 5ml;

    • ¼ cup chana dal
    • ½ cup water
    • 500 grams white pumpkin 4 cups, chopped
    • ⅛ tsp turmeric

    To grind

    • ½ cup coconut grated
    • 2 tsp cumin seeds
    • 3 dried red chilies
    • ½ inch ginger piece
    • 1.5 tsp salt or to taste
    • ¼ cup water

    To Temper

    • 1 tsp oil preferably coconut oil
    • ½ tsp mustard seeds
    • ½ tsp urad dal
    • 5 to 7 curry leaves
    • ¼ tsp asafoetida

    Instructions

    • Rinse the chana dal and take it in a vessel where you plan to make the kootu. Ensure the vessel fits inside the pressure cooker. Add ½ cup of water.
    • Add the chopped white pumpkin to it and add the ground turmeric—no need to add more water. Add two cups of water to the pressure cooker and place the white pumpkin vessel inside the pressure cooker.
    • Close the pressure cooker and cook for two whistles. Let the pressure subside naturally.
    • Meanwhile, Take the coconut, cumin seeds, dried red chilies, and ginger in the mixer jar.
    • Add ¼ cup of water and grind it into a smooth paste.
    • Add this ground mixture to the cooked white pumpkin. Add the salt too. Mix well, and you might notice the kootu is more watery as the white pumpkin oozes out more water when cooking. Simmer the kootu in medium-low heat.
    • Turn off the heat as the kootu froths up and thickens a bit.
    • In a separate kadai, heat a tsp of oil, and when the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and urad dal. Let the mustard seeds splutter and add the curry leaves and asafoetida. Let the curry leaves crisp a bit, then turn off the heat. Add this to the kootu and that's it the kootu is ready.

    Notes

    • Adjust the salt and dried red chilies to taste.
    • Instead of chana dal, you can also use moong dal. 
    • You can also make this kootu in Instant Pot using the pot in pot method, and I have explained the cooking time on my IG reels. Please check it here. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 883mg | Potassium: 596mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 11023IU | Vitamin C: 85mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg

    I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @vidhyasvegetariankitchen or tag #vidhyasvegkitchen
    For Video RecipesCheck out My YouTube Channel

    Update Notes: Earlier posted in 2014, now updated with recipe card with nutritional information and step-wise pictures.

    128 shares
    • Share2
    • Tweet
    • Reddit

    Filed Under: Kootu Varieties, Pumpkin and Squash Tagged With: kootu with coconut, pooshanikai kootu, pumpkin

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cee Dee says

      April 24, 2024 at 6:46 am

      Simple and tasty… Very clear instructions…👍

      Reply
    2. Carm says

      December 28, 2023 at 7:09 am

      5 stars
      Dear Vidya,
      Thanks for the delicious white pumpkin recipe, it was so tasty. We enjoyed it.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        December 28, 2023 at 3:34 pm

        Thank you so much.

        Reply
    3. Janani says

      July 25, 2022 at 6:07 pm

      Tasty and quick recipe!!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        August 20, 2022 at 5:28 am

        Thank you :-)

        Reply
    4. Viji says

      March 06, 2022 at 5:50 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Vidya, I just made it today. Turned out to be a wonderful recipe. Thanks to you

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 08, 2022 at 5:03 pm

        Thanks so much. Glad you liked it.

        Reply
    5. Harish says

      January 29, 2022 at 9:13 pm

      Very nice recipe helping me (man) who has to cook this week :)

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        January 30, 2022 at 4:21 pm

        Thanks.

        Reply
    5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome

    Author Vidhya smiling in the renovated kitchen

    Hello all, I am Srividhya, the person behind this blog. I firmly believe that the mouth is the way to the heart. My blog is all about vegetarian and vegan food with unique and exciting recipes from all over the world. From traditional, authentic recipes to fusion and eggless bakes, you can find it all here! Read more →

    Enjoy My Cookbooks

    Two cookbooks beautifully presented on the table

    Discover the diverse and delicious taste of South India, eggless recipes made in Instant Pot and other deliciousness! Find out more →

    Sign Up to Newsletter

    As Featured On

    As seen on logo banner

    YouTube

    Follow me on YouTube for regular recipe videos and insights from my kitchen!

    Follow

    Disclosure

    VVK is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program - an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate VVK earns from qualifying purchases. Privacy Policy →

    Footer


    VVK is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program - Privacy Policy
    HOME | ABOUT | CONTACT US

    Footer

    ↑ Back to Top

    VVK horizontal logo

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

    Cooking

    • Sign Up to Newsletter
    • All Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Meal Planner
    • Amazon Shop

    VVK is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program

    Copyright © 2025 | VidhyasHomeCooking.com

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.