Vegetable Kurma....with NO oil, onion, tomato or garlic

How can kurma be made without onion, garlic and tomato?!.....and NO OIL...?! Well, there is a way to make it and it tastes absolutely fab with roti! This dish is again from my Mom's kitchen and I should say this recipe must have been born out of necessity. With a household full of an orthodox generation not willing to eat onions and garlic such inventions are necessary to keep the boredom at bay:-)!

Veg Kurma with No Onion, Tomato, Garlic or Oil

For the benefit of my friends from other states, I have given the pics of Chayote (chow-chow). I realised that this veggie is not used very much in other states of India although in TN we fondly call it "Bangalore Kathrikai(brinjal)". I wonder why it got this name though! This is a very easy to cook veggie, tastes sweet and can be used to make a variety of curries or can be had raw with salads too! Peel the skin before cooking or eating it ! Some sites refer to this veggie as a fruit too!

This Kurma is a very simple, easy to make recipe and is very light too! Good for people like me who want to be on a never ending diet regime......

Ingredients:

- 2 cups chopped veggies - potato, carrot, green peas, lima/kidney beans, chayote(chow chow)
- 2 tsp shredded coconut
- 2 to 3 green chillies or as per preference
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 tsp coriander seeds

- 1 1/2 tsp channa dhal soaked(கடலை பருப்பு )

- 1/2 inch ginger
- few curry leaves
- Salt to taste

Prep time: 15 mins           Cook time: 20 mins

Preparation:

- Soak the channa dhal in warm water for 10- 15 mins
- Cut the veggies into bite size cubes and wash them
- Add  about 1/2 cup water just to cover less than half of the veggies and pressure cook for 2 to 3 whistles adding salt

Veggies to be boiled..I did'nt add potatoes!

- Meanwhile, grind the channa dhal, ginger, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, coconut and chilly into a paste

Ingredients to be made into a paste

- Once the steam escapes, open the cooker and add the paste to the boiled veggies.
- Boil the veggies along with the paste for a couple of minutes. This is to ensure you do not get the raw smell of the paste.

Boil the Veggie and paste

- Now add the curry leaves..... tasty veg kurma is ready to serve with chukka roti!

Serve with fresh roti!

Foot note:

- After boiling the veggies, if you find there is more water, drain the excess water aside before adding the paste. Use the excess water as a clear soup!

Sending to Cooking without Onion & Garlic event hosted by Sreevalli of Ammaji Recipes