Kerala vegetable stew, often referred to as “Ishtu,” is a culinary gem from the lush southwestern state of India, Kerala. Whether enjoyed as a hearty breakfast with idiyappam (string hoppers) or as a nourishing side dish with appam (rice pancakes), Kerala vegetable stew is a true meaning of the union of tradition and taste.
Kerala Vegetable stew
A gentle and aromatic offering, this stew is a combination of fresh vegetables with coconut milk and a delicate blend of spices. The result is a velvety, comforting, and subtly spiced dish that envelops your senses in a symphony of flavors. This is a comfort dish to devour on cold winter days with hot appam or parathas.
How to make vegetable stew
Ingredients used
Method
Boil the potatoes and carrots till cooked. If using a pressure cooker, just till 2 whistles, or if using an Instant Pot, cook in manual for 10 minutes. Peel the skin and chop potatoes and carrots into small cubes. In a pot, add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water. When it starts to boil, add chopped onions, ginger, and green chilies. When the onions turn transparent, add cubed potato and carrot. Add salt and lightly mash one or two potatoes. This gives little thickness to the stew. When it thoroughly boils and the raw smell of onions is no more, simmer the flame and add coconut milk. Stir well. When it starts boiling, switch off the flame. Add curry leaves and drizzle coconut oil.
Frequently asked questions
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Vegetable stew recipe
Ingredients
Potato – 1 big or 2 medium-sized
Carrot – 1 big
Onion – 1/2 cup chopped
Ginger – 1/2 tbsp chopped finely
Green chili – 2 or 3 slit lengthwise
Thick Coconut milk – 1/2 cup
Salt – as required
Curry leaves – few
Coconut oil – 2 tsp
Method
- Boil the potatoes and carrots till cooked. If using a pressure cooker, just till 2 whistles, or if using an Instant Pot, cook in manual for 10 minutes.
- Peel the skin and chop it into small cubes.
- In a pot, add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water.
- When it starts to boil, add chopped onions, ginger, and green chilies.
- When the onions turn transparent, add cubed potato and carrot.
- Add salt and lightly mash one or two potatoes. This gives little thickness to the stew.
- When it thoroughly boils and the raw smell of onions is no more, simmer the flame and add coconut milk.
- When it starts boiling, switch off the flame.
- Serve warm with Appam, idli, or dosa.
Kerala vegetable stew
Equipment
- pressure cooker
- Pot
Ingredients
- 2 Potato medium sized
- 1 Carrot
- 1/2 cup Onion chopped
- 1/2 Tbsp Ginger chopped finely
- 2 Green chili slit lengthwise
- 1/2 cup Coconut milk
- Salt as required
- Curry leaves few
- 2 Tsp Coconut oil
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes and carrots till cooked. If using a pressure cooker, just till 2 whistles, or if using an Instant Pot, cook in manual for 10 minutes.
- Peel the skin and chop it into small cubes.
- In a pot, add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water.
- When it starts to boil, add chopped onions, ginger, and green chilies.
- When the onions turn transparent, add cubed potato and carrot.
- Add salt and lightly mash one or two potatoes. This gives little thickness to the stew.
- When it thoroughly boils and the raw smell of onions is no more, simmer the flame and add coconut milk.
- When it starts boiling, switch off the flame.
- Serve warm with Appam, idli, or dosa.
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This post was originally published in March 2017. Now updated with new pictures and more content.
I love stews like this, that incorporate coconut milk. It was so rich and creamy – and the potatoes definitely made this a filling meal. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome. I’m glad you liked it.
Such a comforting soup and packed with flavor! The whole family wanted seconds. Thanks for the recipe!
You are welcome. Am glad your family liked it.
First time with this recipe and it was easy to make. I’ll now add Kerala Vegetable Stew to my regular rotation. My family really enjoyed the flavors!
Thank you. Glad to know you and your family liked it.
This soup is hearty enough to be a main dish – and tasty enough that you’ll eat plenty!! My family loved it – they want it again next too!
Thank you
This was so delicious. I loved the vegetables in it and the coconut milk made the meal so creamy!
Thank you
Delicious combo 🙂
Thank you dear
A healthy and flavorful dish. I love the flavor of coconut i various dishes. Will try soon. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much ? do try and let me know how it turns ☺
such a healthy, lovely looking , colourful recipe dear
Thank you so much Shibani?…One of my favorite ?
My mom adds 8 long green chillies, cut lengthwise! I lvvvvv stew with appams and idiyappam.
It depends on the heat of chillies. The small variety we get here is very hot. I have two small mouths to feed who don’t eat spicy level 2 and up???. You can always adjust spice level according to you ☺. Thank you dear ?
The heat level counts big time. But that has been a standard with her from whenever I seen her make stew for breakfast. The chillies we get back in Kerala may not be that hot.
Ha ha ?.. True..The one we get here reminds me of’ kanthari’?
Ouch! That is hottie hot! ? 1/4 would heat up the entire dish
Absolutely ??
Thanks for a healthy recipe Lathiya. How one can get fresh coconut milk? I mean whats the process /recipe ?
Thank you Rekha ji ?…For coconut milk, scrap coconut, just pulse one or two times it in mixer ,take pulsed coconut in a sieve or muslin cloth, press it, you will get thick Coconut milk. To that remains of pressed coconut add little warm water, again press it in seive or muslin cloth in different bowl. That is thin coconut milk. In this recipe, use thick Coconut milk.? Hope this helps. If you have any doubts, feel free to ask ?
Thanks a lot.? buddy. I will try n let you know. Keep smiling .
Thank you ? my pleasure ?
It sounds and looks so flavorful – thanks for sharing this delicious recipe 😀
Indeed,it is ? Thank you so much ?
Veg stew ; nostalgic and nutritious it is. Growing up we frequently had stew for breakfast…I love it’s taste, texture and aroma…Good share dear…
True dear, I love the aroma when we open the lid after adding coconut oil and curry leaves. It’s heavenly ?. Thank you ?
I love appam and stew…..This looks easy and yummy…am gonna try this 🙂
Thank you dear ?..Do try… It’s indeed easy and yummy ?
This looks delicious! I love any curry with coconut milk. I have tried idliy and dosa many times before, but have yet to try appam. It is a similar flavor?
Thank you so much ?..I will say Appam doesn’t have similar taste to idli or dosa. We grind coconut along with rice for Appam batter sometimes. It’s 95% rice in batter. We can add coconut water also. So a bit of sweetness comes in it. You have to try. I will post how to make Appam batter soon.?
Ah, I see, so there’s coconut in Appam! Now I’m even more curious to try it. I hope it’s something I will be able to make at home. I am looking forward to seeing your recipe! 🙂
Yes , you can ?.. Will try to post it soon?
I love this.
Thank you so much ?