Vegetable Kurma - Spicy Vegetable Stew

Vegetable Kurma is a spicy vegetable stew made by boiling vegetables in aromatic spices to form a stew.Spices and coconut are then added to enhance the flavor and texture.The gravy is then cooked in a large pan in medium heat so the vegetables absorb the spicy stew.This is good with rice and roti.

Ingredients:

• Onion - 3  
• Tomato - 2
• Carrot - 2
• Potato, medium - 4
• Beans - 5 or 6
• Cauliflower florets - 1 cup roughly cut
• Green peas - a handlful
• Giner garlic paste - 2 tsp
• Garam masala - 2 tsp 
• Red chili powder - 2tsp or as desired
• Coriander leaves / Cilantro - a small bunch chopped.
• Salt - 1/2  tsp or as desired

To Temper :

• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Bay leaves
• Cinnamon stick -1
• Cardamom whole - 3
• Star Anise - 1
• Cloves - 4
• Oil - 4 tblsp

To grind :

• Coconut - 1/2 cup shredded
• Fennel seeds - 1 tblsp
• poppy seed - 1/2 tsp
• cashews - 6

Method :

• Cut all the vegetables except onion and tomatoes into large chunks.

• Boil them in an large pan with little salt.Do not drain the water as we will use it for the stew.Instead,you can pressure cook the vegetables for one whistle.

• Add the ingredients under "To grind" to a food processor and grind it into a smooth paste.

• Chop the onions and tomatoes into small pieces and keep them aside.

• In a large deep bottomed pan,add oil.Add the spices under "To temper". Roast them for a min.

• Add the chopped onion and saute them for 5 min until they start to brown slightly.Add little salt.

• Add the ginger garlic paste and saute for 2 min.Add the chopped tomatoes and mix it well.

• Let them cook until the tomatoes turn light mushy.Now turn the gas to low flame and add garam masala and red chili powder and pinch of salt.

• Add excess oil if required.Mix the masala well and keep sauteing until the raw smell goes.Now add the masala which we ground into a paste.

• Change the flame to medium and keep stirring until oil gets separated from the gravy.Now add the vegetables along with the stew.Mix well and close the pan with a lid.

• Change the flame to low and let it simmer for 15 min.Switch off the flame and add chopped coriander leaves.Serve hot with rice or roti.