Kerala Vegetable Stew Recipe | How To Make Kerala Style Vegetable Stew In Pressure Cooker For Appam And Idiyappam | Vegetable Ishtu Recipe

Kerala Vegetable Stew

Kerala Vegetable Stew Or Kerala Vegetable Ishtu With Step By Step Photos And Video

Kerala Vegetable Stew Or Vegetable ishtu is a popular breakfast dish in Kerala. Different types of veggies are cooked in mildly spicy coconut milk in this recipe. This fragrant savory dish is usually served with appam, idiyappam, pathiri etc. However, appam with vegetable stew is the most popular. 

Preparing Kerala vegetable stew is simple; however, before we get to the recipe, let's go over the ingredients and cooking methods.

Vegetables used :- When it comes to the ingredients of vegetable stew, the most commonly used one are potatoes, carrots, French beans, fresh green peas and so on. We just need this much vegetables to make a basic home-style stew.  But you don't have to limit your choice, any soft textured, light flavored vegetables like cauliflower, corn, broccoli etc. would suffice.  However, any vegetable included in the stew's preparation should not change its flavor. A stew should have a slight sweetness, savory flavor and saltiness. Potatoes are the must-have vegetable in a vegetable stew because they act as a thickening agent. If cooking for special guests, some dry fruits like cashews and raisins might be utilized. 

Kerala vegetable stew cooking method :- Making a vegetable stew can be done on stovetop or in pressure cooker. However, in this recipe, we prefer the pressure cooker stew method because it is the simplest to follow, take less time and uses less oil.  

Coconut Milk :- The taste of fresh coconut milk is superior. Stews can be made with  both thick and thin milk. Thin milk to cook the veggies and thick milk to provide flavor. However, I normally simply use only thick milk at the end (thalapal in Malayalam) and cook veggies in water. This will have no impact on its taste or flavor. If you like to prepare in the traditional wasy, simmer the vegetables in  thin coconut milk (randam pal in Malayalam) before seasoning with thick milk.

Flavoring agents :- A basic stew can be fragrant with just ginger, garlic and curry leaves. To make the stew more flavorful, I normally add whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, clove and a generous pinch of garam masala. 

Vegetable stew and appam is a fantastic combination that should be  tried. Ingredients and cooking method process are discussed in the following part with with step by step photos and video.

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Kerala Vegetable Stew Recipe | Kerala Vegetable Ishtu Recipe | How To Make Kerala Vegetable Stew In Pressure Cooker For Appam and Idiyappam

Vegetables simmered in coconut milk

Preparation time: 15 minutes / Cooking time 20 minutes / Total time: 35 minutes

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Ingredients

Vegetables 

• 2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 to 4 beans cut into small pieces
• 1 carrot, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 cup green peas
• 1 onion, chopped finely
• 1" ginger, chopped finely
• 3 green chilies. slit lengthwise
• 5 garlic cloves

Whole spices

• 3 green cardamom
• 1" cinnamon
• 4 cloves
• 6 pepper corns

Other Ingredients 

• 8 to10 cashews
• 8 to10 raisins
• 2 springs of curry leaves
• 1 cup thin  coconut milk or 1 cup water
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup thick coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt as needed

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How to make Kerala Vegetable Stew / Ishtu At Home

Kerala vegetable stew preparation with step by step photos

1. Take vegetables, whole spices, cashews and rains in a pressure cooker. Add enough salt and water (or thin coconut milk). Pressure cook for one whistle on high flame. 

   

   Kerala Vegetable stew /ishtu -veggies with whole spices and salt plus water

   
   
2. After the first whistle, switch off the flame and wait till the pressure settle down.Mash the veggies slightly with a potato masher. The veggies should not mashed fully.

   

   Kerala Vegetable stew /ishtu - mashed

3. Cook again on high flame, till  extra gravy evaporate and the veggies come to a semi-dry consistency. Keep an eye on it, there is a high chance to burn. This step is very important, it should come a semi-thick consistency. Make sure there is no stock /gravy left, before adding the next ingredient. 

   

   Kerala Vegetable stew /ishtu - Semi dry 

   
   
4. When the gravy thickens and come to a semi-dry consistency, add thick coconut milk. After the addition of thick milk, switch off the flame when first boil starts. Do not boil the gravy, the coconut milk will curdle. 

   

   Kerala Vegetable stew /ishtu - with thick milk

   
   
5. Add a pinch of garam masala, curry leaves and finally drizzle some fresh coconut oil.  

   

   Kerala Vegetable stew /ishtu - seasoned

6. Mix well and cover with a lid and set aside for five to ten minutes so that all the flavors diffuse into the gravy beautifully.

   

   Kerala Vegetable stew /ishtu - ready 

   
   
7. Then serve with appam, idiyappam or chappathi. Enjoy.

   

   Kerala Vegetable stew /ishtu

   
   

Happy Cooking

Anju