Vegetable Stew

Vegetable Stew is another favorite dish of Keralites. It is made in Coconut Milk using vegetables of your choice. Coconut Milk imparts a wonderful flavor to the stew. You can make stew using a single vegetable or use a combination of veggies like Potatoes, Carrots, Green Peas, Beans and so on. It goes well with Palappam or Velayappam, Idiyappam, Parotta etc.


Ingredients
Diced Vegetables – 3 or 4 cups (I used the following veggies:- 2 carrots, 1 potato, 1/4 cup green peas, 1/4 cup corn and 1 cup green beans)
Cinnamon Sticks (Patta) – 2 half inch pieces
Cardamom (Elakka) -3
Cloves (Grambu) – 4
Star Anise (Thakkolam) – 1
Fennel Seeds (Perum Jeerakam) – 1/2 tsp
Bay Leaves – 2
Sliced Onion – 1 big
Slit Green Chillies – 3
Chopped Ginger – 2 tsp
Chopped Garlic – 3 cloves
Cashew halves – 2 tbsp
Raisins – 2 tbsp
Garam Masala Powder – 1/2 tsp
Thin Coconut Milk – 3 Cups
Thick Coconut Milk – 1 Cup
Oil – 2 tbsp
Salt – to taste
Curry Leaves – A sprig

Method
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a wok. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, cardamom, bay leaves and fennel seeds and saute for a minute.
Next add the sliced onions and saute till translucent.
Add the slit green chillies, curry leaves, thinly sliced ginger and garlic pieces and saute for a few minutes.
Add cashews and raisins and saute for a minute.
Next add 1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder and saute for a minute.
Add the diced vegetables along with required salt and saute on low flame for 5-7 minutes.
Pour 3 cups of thin coconut milk and mix well.
Cook on medium flame for around 10-12 minutes till the vegetables are cooked.
Finally, pour 1 cup of thick coconut milk and allow the vegetables to simmer for 5 minutes.
You vegetable stew is ready.