Kootuista

Kootuista is a term that has appeared in online discussions to describe a person with a pronounced interest in kootu, a traditional Tamil dish featuring vegetables cooked with lentils and coconut. The coinage appears to fuse 'kootu' with the -ista suffix, a pattern seen in other modern loanwords indicating a practitioner or enthusiast.

The term's etymology and usage are not widely documented in major dictionaries or linguistic sources. It is primarily found in blogs, recipe forums, and social media where food enthusiasts share recipes, technique tips, and cultural notes related to kootu. Its usage ranges from self-identification to light-hearted labeling of others who frequently discuss or prepare kootu.

A kootuista is not a formal title or profession. Rather, it denotes a hobbyist or admirer of the dish who may collect variations, historical origins, and regional styles of kootu, and who contributes content such as recipes, cooking tips, and commentary on ingredients like coconut, dal, and spices.

There are no widely recognized individuals officially identified as kootuistas; the term remains informal and largely self-applied within online communities.

See also: Kootu, South Indian cuisine, Indian culinary terms.