Parangikai Kootu (Sweet Pumpking Stew with Moong)

Sweet pumpkin is one of my favorite vegetable.I like this one more compared to normal yellow pumpkin.It imparts a very subtle sweet flavor to the dishes it is used in.Prangikai kootu is one of the very famous dish in Tamil nadu.There are so many varities of kootu made with parangikai such as paal kootu (stew with milk),poricha kootu,kootu with coconut etc.Here I am posting my mom's recipe.This is not any specific authentic recipe.She often makes this kind for a quick dinner.This is very wholesome with the use of yellow moong dal.This is best paired with steamed rice,ghee and papads.Give it a try and let me know.

Ingredients:
1 cup sweet pumpkin cubes (deseed and cut into cubes)
1/2 cup yellow moong dal
1/4 cup milk (boiled n cooled)
1/2 tablespoon grated coconut
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida
Salt to taste
For Tempering:
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon urad dal
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
3 dried red chillies 
10 curry leaves
Oil/ghee
Method:
1.Pressure cook sweet pumpkin with moong dal up to 4 whistles.Once pressure is released mash it well.
2.Boil it along with salt,asafoetida,grated coconut,milk and salt.Let it boil for 10 minutes.
3.Heat little ghee in a kadai and add the tempering ingredients and let them splutter.Add the tempering to the boiling stew and take off from heat.Serve hot.
Time:30 minutes
Serves:4

Notes:
1.You can substitute carrots/yellow pumpkin for sweet pumpkin and make the same kootu.
2.Using ghee for tempering will impart a nice aroma.
3.You can add sweet pumpkin pieces to adai,masala vadai,kunuku.