Kerala Vegetable Stew in Microwave!

From our many vacations spent in Kerala, the most prominent things that come to mind, are the Idiappam, Appams, Istew and Pazham Pori. I can't decide in which order I like them. I simply love them all. When we visit those places, we always had the honour of getting royal treatments from Dad's assistants. Starting from breakfast till dinner, it used to be an indulgence to heart's content. Though we have brought back those flavors to home, nothing like enjoying them in its homeland.

We must've visited Erranakulam some 5-6 times now. The hospitality of the people, the beauty of the land, are some of the things that always comes to mind, apart from the lovely cuisine. From the railway station to the guest house, it used to be one long walk and it was always reviving by the time we reached the rooms. Then a visit to Guruvayur Temple in the morning and back to guest house by evening, we used to be all ready for a Pazham Pori treat. Uncle S, who is posted in Erranakulam, knew our likes. So he will have these ready when we get back. Those lovely Pazham Poris can't be matched, I tell you! Yeah back home, we have made these many times, they always are enjoyable. Yet those that we used to eat in Errnakulam, used to be of a different class of its own. Ah, and those many appams and stews. I can only salivate thinking of those days!

Hubby dear is somehow not so very fond of Stew, unfortunately. He will eat stew, but prefers Tomato Kurma for Appams. Maybe thats because we introduced Appam to him along with Tomato Kurma to him. This weekend, yes I finally got myself make the stew in Microwave. It was so simple, I wonder why I never attempted this in MW before. It was ready in less than flat 10 mins, and it was good. It brought back memories of eating it in Errnakulam, where Uncle S, daughter, who was then in 12 std, made it for us, which was lip Smacking! Imagine a 17 year old making a classic Stew!

Appam with Tomato Kurma and Kerala Stew

Cooking Time : 7 mins
Serves - 2-3 servings
Cuisine : Kerala
Mode of Cooking : Microwave

Ingredients Needed:

Potatoes - 2
Carrot - 1 (I didn't add this time)
Onion - 1 small
Coconut grated - 1 cup
Ginger - 1"
Green Chillis - 2
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Curry Leaves few leaves
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - 1
Salt to taste
Oil - 1 tsp

Method to prepare:

Wash and peel the potato. In a Mw safe bowl, take the potatoes with 1/2 cup water. Micro for 2-3 mins. Remove and keep it aside.

Add oil, cloves, cinnamon, curry leaves and micro for 30 sec. Then add grated ginger, chopped green chilies, finely chopped onions, turmeric powder and micro for 1 - 2 mins. Ensure the onions are brown.

Meanwhile, take the grated coconut, add 1/2 cup water and run in the mixer. Extract the thick coconut milk by passing it through sieve. Keep it aside

Add another 1 cup of water to the coconut again and run it to get a thinner coconut milk. When the onions in the mw is browned, add the thin coconut milk and micro for 2 mins. Add the cooked potatoes and micro for another 2 mins.

Finally add the thick coconut milk and micro for 1 min. The stew is ready to be served with Appam!

I guess the turmeric was not enough, the stew still came out white!

Hope you have your entries ready and do remember to send them to me by 31st July!

Recipe