Elevate your plant-based cooking with this nourishing and flavorful Vegan Cabbage Kootu, a traditional South Indian dish that's versatile and comforting. Perfectly cooked moong dal and tender cabbage come together in a fragrant blend of aromatic spices, toasted coconut, and curry leaves, all simmered to perfection in coconut oil. This wholesome recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and incredibly easy to prepare, making it ideal for weeknight dinners or meal prep. A balance of earthy, nutty, and mildly spicy flavors makes this kootu a great companion to steamed rice or your favorite Indian bread. Ready in just 40 minutes, this dish is a hearty, healthy “one-pot” wonder that’s sure to impress vegans and non-vegans alike!
Rinse the moong dal thoroughly under running water and set aside.
In a large saucepan, boil 2 cups of water. Add the rinsed moong dal and turmeric powder. Cook the dal over medium heat until it becomes soft but not mushy, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, chop the cabbage into small pieces. Add the chopped cabbage to the saucepan with the cooking dal and continue to cook for another 10 minutes until the cabbage becomes tender.
In a small frying pan over medium heat, add coconut oil. Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Add cumin seeds, urad dal, dried red chilies, and curry leaves to the pan. Sauté for about a minute until the urad dal turns golden brown.
Stir in the grated coconut and sauté for another 2 minutes until the coconut is slightly toasted.
Add the sautéed spice mixture to the cabbage and lentil mixture. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
Season with salt and mix well. Let it simmer on low heat for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Turn off the heat and let the Vegan Cabbage Kootu sit for a few minutes before serving.
Serve warm with rice or Indian bread of choice.
Calories |
921 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 39.6 g | 51% | |
| Saturated Fat | 30.2 g | 151% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2444 mg | 106% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 116.3 g | 42% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 39.1 g | 140% | |
| Total Sugars | 14.9 g | ||
| Protein | 37.5 g | 75% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 697 mg | 54% | |
| Iron | 17.6 mg | 98% | |
| Potassium | 3088 mg | 66% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.