Vegetable Kurma

Ingredients:

Potato                          ––   1 cup, cubed
Carrot                          ––   1 cup cubed
Beans                            ––   10 - 15
Cauliflower Florets ––   1 cup, chopped
Fresh Green peas     ––   ½ cup
Onion                            ––   2 cups chopped
Tomato                        ––   3/4 cup chopped
Red chili powder     ––   2 tsp
Mustard seeds          ––   1 tsp
Bay leaf                        ––   1
Curry leaves              ––   1 sprig
Salt                                ––   to taste
Oil                                  ––   1 tbsp

To Grind:
Fresh grated coconut ––   ½ cup
Ginger                               ––   ½ inch piece
Garlic                                ––   4 - 5 cloves
Cashew nuts                   ––   10 - 12
Poppy seeds                   ––   1 tsp
Fennel seeds                  ––   1 tsp
Cumin seeds                   ––   ½ tsp
Cardamom                      ––   2
Cinnamon                        ––   1 inch stick
Cloves                               ––   2

Preparation :

Chop the potato, carrots, beans and the cauliflower florets. Steam cook / Microwave the veggies until they are 75% cooked. Keep aside.

Chop the onions and the tomatoes. Keep aside.

Grind the grated coconut, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, cashew nuts, poppy seeds, ginger, garlic, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves to a fine paste adding just enough water as required. Keep aside.

In a wide pan, heat oil and add the bay leaf. Saute for few seconds. Add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add the curry leaves followed by the chopped onions. Saute until the onions turns translucent. Now add red chilly powder and saute until it is well blended.

Now add the ground paste and 1 cup of water. Mix well and cook over low flame until the water is almost absorbed.

Add the partially cooked vegetables, and chopped tomatoes, mix well, and add more water as required for the gravy. Let it cook with the lid on for 8- 10 mins.

Check  the gravy and add more water if required. If adding more water, let it boil and switch off.

Serve hot with chapathi or any indian bread or basmati rice.