Chettinad Cuisine has its own distinctive taste with the use of spices - both whole and ground that add to the flavour. We love Chettinad breakfasts and make it often, also the Poondu Podi (garlic spice powder) & the Chettinad Baby Potatoesare great family favourites too !
Chettinad cuisine is the cuisine of the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu state in South India. The Chettiar community, who are a majority in this region, are a very successful trading community. Chettinad cuisine is one of the spiciest and the most aromatic in India.Chettinad cuisine is famous for its use of a variety of spices used in preparing mainly non-vegetarian food. The dishes are hot and pungent with fresh ground masalas. They also use a variety of sun dried meats and salted vegetables, reflecting the dry environment of the region. The meat is restricted to fish, prawn, crab, chicken and lamb. Chettiars do not eat beef and pork. Most of the dishes are eaten with rice and rice based accompaniments such as dosais, appams, idiyappams, adais and idlis. Chettinad cuisine offers a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Some of the popular vegetarian dishes include idiyappam, paniyaram, vellai paniyaram, karuppatti paniyaram, paal paniyaram,kuzhi paniyaram, kozhakattai, masala paniyaram, adikoozh, kandharappam, seeyam, masala seeyam, kavuni arisi & athirasam.(source : Wiki)
Today's post is a simple but very flavourful curry that goes well with simple Ghee rice, any simple Pulav , Chapatis or even Parotta (the tamilnadu version of layered rotis). Adapted from this recipe, we rather liked the delicious gravy and have made it many times thereon. Other than this, we also love the Chettinad Kaigari Mandi (another delicious curry) with Idiyappam / Appam
Lets see how to make this..
Chettinad Vellai Kurma (Chettinad style vegan gravy)
Course : Side Dish, Cuisine : Tamilnadu (Chettinad cuisine)
Prep time : 15 mins, Cook time : 15 mins , Serves : 4
Serving suggestions : Ghee rice / Chapati / Parotta / Peas Pulao
Ingredients:
- Mixed Veggies - 1 cups (I used green peas, carrots, cauliflowers, beans, potatoes)
- Oil - 1 TBSP
- Tempering : Curry leaves, mustard seeds, broken red chillies (2 nos - optional)
- Salt - to taste
To be ground to a paste:
- Fresh coconut - ¾ cup (about 125 gms)
- Cashews - 10 to 15
- Clove - 2 nos
- Cardamom - 2 nos
- Fennel seeds - ½ TBSP
- Green chillies - 1 no
- Ginger - ½ inch piece
Method:
- Boil all veggies till 90% done. They should have a little bite left in them.
- Without roasting, grind all the ingredients in raw form under "To paste" column, keep aside (it helps if cashews are soaked in warm water for 10 mins and then ground)
- In a pan, add oil, splutter mustard seeds, curry leaves, add the paste and fry for 2-3 mins till raw smell disappears. Now add salt and boiled veggies.
- Let it simmer on low heat for 5-6 mins till veggies are blended well
- Serve hot with any of the above serving suggestions.
Amara’s cooking says
Such a comforting Kurma, who can pass out this one...:) looks Delicious Kalyani..
Pavani says
That is a delicious looking Chettinad kurma. Gravy looks really yummy. Bookmarked!!
cookingwithsapana says
Chettinad kurma looks very delicious .Love the color of the gravy.
Suma Gandlur says
That is one flavorful and delicious sounding curry. It is on the mild side and kids would enjoy it too.
MySpicyKitchen says
This is an easy kurma preparation. Love the flavors of the curry and looks delicious
vaishali sabnani says
Lovely kurma , i am not a big fan of mix veggies , wonder why ... But somehow i like the kurmas . They are different from the regular mix veggies .
Gayathri Kumar says
This is a wonderful combination which even I have made for this BM. Sweet!
Padmajha says
Flavorful Kurma Kalyani and I love that blue bowl 🙂
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
I love vellai kurma and this is so flavorful! Looks delicious 🙂
The Pumpkin Farm says
this one sounds aromatic with the pristine white curry subtlely flavored with the spices...and white rice will be the combo to go with when i make it
Srivalli says
I like your setup, that backdrop looks amazing..I am always for kurma, so bring it on!
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
Flavorful kurma kalyani. Beautiful color on the plate! !
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
Flavorful kurma kalyani. Beautiful color on the plate! !
Unknown says
Beautiful pictures Kalyani, I am a bid fan of chettinad cuisine may because of it's spicy flavors. Kurma looks so delicious...
Srividhya says
yummy n flavorful.. I posted a chettinad recipe too. Same pinch.
Nalini's Kitchen says
Such a delicious and flavorful vellai kurma,we make it often..
Smruti Ashar says
Such a delicious looking Chettinad kurma. Lovely clicks too Kalyani 🙂
Priya Suresh says
We just love this vellai Kurma, nothing can beat this kurma with hot steaming idlies, love it to the core.
Harini R says
Wow! that is a very flavorful kurma. Love to pair it with peas pulao.
A Kamalika Krishmy says
hand me some appam with this kurma.. i would be blissfully happy
Chef Mireille says
love the creamy consistency of this gravy
rajani says
I use pottu kadalai instead of cashews when I make kurma. I will give this version a try soon.
Saraswathi Ganeshan says
Flavourful kurma! goes well with chappati or parotta!
Unknown says
Aah my favourite kuruma. Need some idiappams right now!!!
Nisha says
This is such a flavourful kurma and always a favourite! 🙂