Kerala Appam, Thengai Paal and Kerala Vegetable Stew

Ingredients

• 2 cup Freshly Grated Coconut (From one large, mature coconut)
• 0.75 cup Jaggery Powder (Adjust to your preferred sweetness)
• 0.5 tsp Cardamom Powder
• 0.25 tsp Dry Ginger Powder (Also known as sukku podi)
• 4.25 cup Warm Water (4 cups for extracting milk and 0.25 cup for jaggery syrup)

Instructions

1. 1

   Extract Fresh Coconut Milk

   • In a blender, combine the 2 cups of grated coconut with 2 cups of warm water.
   • Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and milky.
   • Place a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth over a large bowl and pour the blended mixture through it. Squeeze the pulp firmly to extract all the thick milk (first press).
   • Return the squeezed coconut pulp to the blender. Add the remaining 2 cups of warm water and blend again for 1 minute.
   • Strain this mixture into the same bowl to get the thin milk (second press). Discard the remaining pulp. Whisk both milk extracts together.
2. 2

   Prepare the Jaggery Syrup

   • In a small saucepan, combine the jaggery powder and 1/4 cup of water.
   • Heat over a low-medium flame, stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes until the jaggery has completely dissolved. Do not let the syrup come to a boil.
   • Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool for a minute.
   • Strain the warm jaggery syrup through a fine sieve directly into the bowl of coconut milk. This removes any impurities from the jaggery.
3. 3

   Combine and Flavor

   • Gently stir the strained jaggery syrup into the coconut milk until fully combined.
   • Add the cardamom powder and dry ginger powder to the mixture.
   • Whisk well to ensure the spices are evenly distributed and there are no lumps.
4. 4

   Serve

   • Thengai Paal can be served immediately while it is warm.
   • Alternatively, you can chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and serve it cold.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Virgin Coconut Oil (Preferred for its authentic aroma and flavor.)
• 1 inch piece Cinnamon Stick
• 4 pcs Cloves
• 3 pods Green Cardamom (Lightly crush the pods to release their aroma.)
• 0.5 tsp Black Peppercorns (Use whole peppercorns for a gentle, lingering heat.)
• 1 medium Onion (Thinly sliced.)
• 1 inch piece Ginger (Peeled and julienned.)
• 3 cloves Garlic (Thinly sliced.)
• 3 pcs Green Chili (Slit lengthwise. Adjust quantity based on your spice preference.)
• 1 sprig Curry Leaves (Use fresh leaves for the best flavor, divided.)
• 1 large Potato (Peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes.)
• 1 large Carrot (Peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes.)
• 0.5 cup Green Beans (Trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces.)
• 0.5 cup Green Peas (Fresh or frozen.)
• 2 cups Thin Coconut Milk (This is the second extract, or use 1 cup canned full-fat coconut milk mixed with 1 cup water.)
• 1 cup Thick Coconut Milk (This is the first extract, or undiluted canned full-fat coconut milk.)
• 1 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste.)

Instructions

1. 1

   Temper the Spices (1 minute)

   • Heat the virgin coconut oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
   • Once the oil is shimmering, add the cinnamon stick, cloves, crushed cardamom pods, and whole black peppercorns.
   • Sauté for about 45 seconds until the spices become fragrant. Be careful not to let them burn.
2. 2

   Sauté Aromatics (4 minutes)

   • Add the sliced onion, julienned ginger, sliced garlic, slit green chilies, and half of the curry leaves to the pot.
   • Sauté over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes until the onions soften and turn translucent. It's important not to brown them to maintain the stew's signature white color.
3. 3

   Cook the Vegetables (15 minutes)

   • Add the cubed potatoes, carrots, green beans, and green peas. Stir for a minute to coat them with the aromatics.
   • Pour in the thin coconut milk and add salt. Stir gently to combine.
   • Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are fork-tender but still hold their shape.