Vegetable Stew - Kerala Style

A perfect side dish to enjoy with "Appom" or Plain  Bread....
For me this is a Vegetarian dish at its best.....a "coconut y" treat for the coconut lovers.

Use any Vegetables of your choice , usually its made with at least one root vegetable which makes this dish thick.

Ingredients  

Whole Spices - Cardamom - 3 no's , Cloves - 2 no's , Cinnamon - small stick
Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp (Optional)
Onion - 1 large thinly sliced
Curry Leaves - 1 to 3 springs
Coconut Milk - 1/2 tin (thick) or else use 1 cup thin milk while and 1 cup thick milk
Vinegar - 2 Tb sp (Optional)
Cashewnuts - 1/4 cup (powdered and mixed with a little water / or else soak in water and grind to a thick paste.)

Oil - 3 Tb Sp (Preferably Coconut oil)

Vegetable's  
Potatoes - 2 no's cubed.
Carrot - 1 medium slit and cut into 1 inch lengthwise.
Green Peas - 1/2 cup
Green chili's - 4 no's slit (Adjust as per your preference)
Ginger and Garlic Chopped - 2 tsp finely chopped

& Some cauliflower heads

From a cool looking Cauliflower ;) 

Method 

* Heat 1 Tb sp oil in a heavy bottom pan , add whole spices (cardamom , cloves and Cinnamon) , saute for a few seconds and then add chopped ginger , garlic , green chili's, saute for a few minutes and then add the vegetables (Carrot , Potatoes , beans(if using) , peas etc ) 

*Pour little water to cook the vegetable's , may add 1 cup thin coconut milk (if using fresh coconut milk) . cook the vegetable's till nicely done (may use a pressure cooker , cook till 1 whistles heard . open lid immediately after releasing the pressure under running water) 

* Add Vinegar and allow to boil , then add curry leaves and Masala powder (if using) , keep heat in medium to low.

* Add the ground cashew nut paste (if using , this makes the dish rich and also little thicker in consistency)  when stew starts to thicken , pour thick coconut milk (or else 1/2 tin coconut milk) , let it simmer for just a few seconds , do not let it boil if using fresh coconut milk. 

*In an other pan , heat the rest of oil and fry thinly sliced onions till just brown , add this fried onion on to the stew and serve. 

Stew is ready to be served. 

May add some fried onion and a pinch of Masala powder on top before serving. 

Serve with Appam or any Bread 

Cheers

TN