Vegetable Stew from Kerala

Contributed by Sharmila Shanmugasundaram

Kerala cuisine is famous for its dishes predominately prepared with coconut flavour. One such popular creamy Kerala style curry is a vegetable stew with a choice of veggies. Needless to say it is a dish loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients

1. ½ tbsp coconut oil
2. 2 cloves / lavang
3. 1 inch cinnamon / dalchini
4. 2 pods cardamom / elachi
5. ½ onion, sliced
6. 5 beans, chopped
7. ½ carrot, chopped
8. ½ potato, cubed
9. 3 tbsp peas / matar
10. 10 florets cauliflower / gobi
11. 2 green chilli, slit
12. 1 inch ginger, julienne
13. 1 cup water
14. 1 tsp salt
15. 2 cup coconut milk, thin
16. few curry leaves
17. ¼ cup coconut milk, thick

Procedure

1. In a large Pan/ kadai heat ½ tbsp coconut oil and saute 2 cloves, 1 inch cinnamon and 2 pods cardamom.
2. Add ½ onion and saute till they shrink slightly. Do not brown the onions.
3. Also add 5 beans, ½ carrot, ½ potato, 3 tbsp peas, 10 florets cauliflower, 2 green chilli and 1 inch ginger.
4. Saute for a minute.
5. Add 1 cup water, 1 tsp salt and a few curry leaves. Mix well.
6. Cover and boil for 5 minutes or till vegetables are half cooked.
7. Add 2 cup coconut milk (thin consistency) and mix well.
8. Boil for 7 minutes or till vegetables are cooked completely.
9. Turn off the flame and add a few curry leaves, ¼ cup thick coconut milk and 1 tsp coconut oil. Mix well.

Vegetable Stew is a great accompaniment with rice or Kerala Paratha.