Food Recipes Dinner Curry Recipes Kerala-Style Vegetable Coconut Curry Be the first to rate & review! This comforting vegetable curry gets its silky texture from coconut milk and rich aroma from the blend of spices. By Jes Thomas Updated on October 30, 2024 Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Tested by Food & Wine Test Kitchen Recipes published by Food & Wine are rigorously tested by the culinary professionals at the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios in order to empower home cooks to enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing meals they will love. Our expert culinary team tests and retests each recipe using equipment and ingredients found in home kitchens to ensure that every recipe is delicious and works for cooks at home every single time. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen Active Time: 50 mins Total Time: 50 mins Servings: 4 Jump to recipe Jes Thomas’ Kerala-style vegetable curry, inspired by one her aunt Leelamma made, is pure comfort — a delicious, warming addition to your cold season repertoire. It starts with an aromatic base of coconut oil, and mustard seeds as well as fresh onion, garlic, and ginger. Jalapeno deepens the flavor profile while lending a bit of heat. It doesn’t stop there! Tomatoes, curry leaves, and spices like garam masala, asafoetida (hing), coriander, and turmeric add complexity and complete the flavor. Once the base is assembled, add hearty vegetables like cauliflower, potatoes, and canned chickpeas. You can bulk out the stew by adding your favorite frozen vegetables like peas, carrots, greens beans, or corn. Finish the curry with rich and creamy coconut milk and serve it with rice or parathas. The whole pot comes together in less than an hour, making it a great option for a cozy weeknight dinner at home. Frequently Asked Questions Can I make Kerala-style curry using other ingredients? The southwestern Indian region Kerala boasts many famous curry dishes using coconut milk as a base, including fish curry, chicken curry, and egg curry. While they share many common ingredients (as dishes from the same place often do!), they are distinct recipes. What is asafoetida (hing) powder? The ground-up resin from a celery relative, the ferula plant, asafoetida (or hing) powder smells a little like boiled eggs and tastes, well, essential — a slightly bitter, slightly funky component that brings all of a dish’s spices together. Look for asafoetida at local Indian grocers or online. Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Try serving this curry with flaky homemade parathas. Make ahead Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days, and frozen for up to three months. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 1/2 tablespoons refined coconut oil 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds 1 large (11 ounce) yellow onion, chopped (2 cups) 2 jalapeño chiles (7-8 ounce each), seeded and finely chopped (1/3 cup) 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped (1 tablespoon) 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon) 1 medium (6 ounce) tomato, chopped (1 cup) 12 fresh curry leaves 2 tablespoons ground coriander 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste 1/2 teaspoon garam masala 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida powder 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric 4 cups cauliflower florets (from 1 small [1 1/2 pound] cauliflower) 1 large (12 ounce) russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-in. cubes (about 2 1/4 cups) 2 cups unthawed frozen vegetables (such as green beans, corn, carrots, and peas) (from 1 [16-ounce] package) 2 tablespoons water, as needed 1 (13 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed 1 (13 1/2-ounce) can coconut milk, well shaken and stirred Steamed white or brown rice or warmed parathas Directions Heat coconut oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add mustard seeds, and cook, undisturbed, until seeds begin to pop and crackle (stand back so they don’t pop in your face), about 1 minute. Add onion, jalapeños, garlic, and ginger; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir tomato into onion mixture in Dutch oven. Stir in curry leaves, coriander, salt, garam masala, asafoetida, and turmeric. Cook, stirring often, until mixture browns slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add cauliflower, potato, and frozen vegetables to Dutch oven, stirring to completely coat in spice mixture. Cover Dutch oven; reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until potato and cauliflower are just softened, 20 to 30 minutes. (Add about 2 tablespoons water, if needed, if bottom of Dutch oven is looking very dry.) Stir chickpeas and coconut milk into Dutch oven; increase heat to medium, and bring to a simmer. Simmer until heated through, about 3 minutes. Season with additional salt to taste. Serve over steamed rice or alongside warm parathas. Rate It Print