You can tweak this recipe, giving it a herby flavor by adding fresh coriander leaves to the coconut-green chilli paste. You can omit asafoetida and add a crushed garlic in the tempering. Try to limit to two to three varieties of vegetables and not more and use slightly sour curd. Fresh, warm and comforting, a delicious stew.
Majjiga Pulusu
Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed vegetables (bottle gourd/ladyfingers/drumsticks/potatoes/sweet potatoes)
- 1 onion, sliced (optional)
- big pinch turmeric pwd
- 2 cups thick curd (slightly sour curd)
- 1 cup water
- salt to taste
- 4 tbsps grated fresh coconut
- 3 green chillis
- 1 2 tbsps fresh coriander leaves (optional)
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/4 tsp methi seeds
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- pinch of hing/asafoetida (optional)
- 10 12 fresh curry leaves
- 2 dry red chilli, de seed and tear (optional)
- 1/2 tbsp oil
For Paste:
For seasoning/poppu/tadka:
Method for making Majjiga Pulusu
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Make a paste of grated coconut, green chillis and coriander leaves without adding any water.
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Beat the curd well adding water to form a smooth sauce like consistency.
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Combine the ground paste with the beaten curd and keep aside.
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Add half a cup of water to the cubed vegetables (1/2 tsp salt) except the onions and cook till they are half-cooked. Keep aside.
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Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and let them pop, add the cumin seeds, methi seeds and let them turn slightly brown. Add the curry leaves, red chillis and asafoetida, turmeric pwd and toss for a few seconds. Add the onions and saute for 4 mts before adding the cooked vegetables (along with left over water if any) and combine well.
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Add the curd-coconut mixture to the vegetables and on low heat, cook stirring continuously, otherwise it might curdle. Adjust the salt and cook till the vegetables absorb the flavors and the gravy thickens. Do not boil. Turn off heat. Cover lid and let it sit for a few minutes before serving for the flavors to absorb.
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Serve with white rice.