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Alila Diwa Benasthali/ Mixed Vegetables Cooked in Mildly spiced Coconut Milk/ Mixed Vegetables Stew

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When I first heard the name Alila Diwa Benasthali,  I was curious, what is it? Then once I read the ingredients and way of cooking, I know this is going to be cousin of Kerala style Stew. If there is an ingredient that can lure me to make a dish, it is coconut. This dish contains, coconut milk, grated coconut. It also have seasoning which is lacking in stew. 

In Kerala, coconut is usually a part of breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes. Whenever I see a fresh coconut I try to buy them. I have grown up watching my mom cut open 1-2 coconut everyday and scrap its meat. I used to sit near by and watch her. Usually I would grab one handful of coconut meat and run away for playing. Now my princess love to eat coconut meat. When I take out coconut from freezer, she will stand near the microwave, until is defrosted. She even grabs coconut from store and tries checking whether it is good or bad just like me and my hubby does before buying. 

Another reason, I made this curry because I need to try one recipe from Master Chef Cookery show for the  Cook Like Star Blog hop  hosted by Anuja of Simple baking. I was planning to make something else. But when I saw this curry being made by Chef Edia cottain a YouTube video, I thought it is easy, and I can make it for morning breakfast dosa ( South Indian Pancake/Crepe).

This recipe is from Goa, another land of coconuts. I visited Goa once in my college days. It is beautiful, I saw my first ferry in Goa, beautiful beaches, ancient Portuguese architectureand its food. It has its own booz called Fenny made from cashew or coconut. Goan cuisine is different from my home town Kerala cuisine with its use of spices and vinegar. Once I tried to make their famous recipe Vindaloo, it turned out to be so spicy for us; we couldn’t handle it even after reducing the spice level. I think I will make the mild version of Vindaloo, some time. 

As this curry is mildly spiced I was more willing to try them. However, I can’t do any recipe without adding my own modifications, hence I added green bell pepper, and French cut beans which are not in original recipe. I reduced the amount of coriander powder, as my hubby like the lower side of coriander powder. I reduced the amount of green chili too as 4-5 green chili will be spicy for us. Initially I thought of using olive oil but later changed my mind and used coconut oil.  Curry turned out to be delicious. If you are a lover of coconuts and its derivatives then try this curry.  My Kerala friends you may want change to your usual stew and try this one. You are going to love this.  

Here goes the recipe 
Pull all the vegetables from your refrigerator and freezer, also spices and coconut milk from the  Pantry. 

Boil potato, cauliflower,  and carrot and set aside. chop rest of vegetables and set aside. 

In a thick bottom pan add coconut oil and mustard seeds once it splutter add onion and one green chili and fry until it become slightly golden brown or change color, then add tomato, ginger garlic paste and spices and cook   along with ½ cup water until  oil separates from the gravy. 
To this add coconut milk, cooked vegetables, rest of green chilies, salt and sugar and cook until vegetables are done. 
To this add  grated coconut. curry leaves and chopped coriander leaves and switch off. 


Enjoy with  dosa, rice or roti or bread of your choice. 

Alila Diwa Benasthali/ Mixed Vegetables Cooked in Mildly spiced Coconut Milk/ Mixed Vegetables Stew

Adapted from Chef Edia Cotta  Master chef cookery Show


Prep Time    30  minutes
Cook Time    35 minutes
Serves    4


Ingredients:
3 Tablespoon coconut Oil
½ Teaspoon Mustard Seed
1 Cup Chopped Onion ( I used red onion)
½ Cup Chopped Tomatoes ( about 1 tomato)
½ Cup  Green Bell pepper
¼ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
½ Teaspoon  Cumin Powder
½ Teaspoon Coriander Powder
1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
1 Cup Water
½ Cup Coconut Milk ( I used Canned one)
¾ Cup Boiled Potatoes
1 Cup Boiled Cauliflower
½ Cup French cut Beans
½ Cup Chopped Carrots
2 Sliced Green Chillies
½ teaspoon Salt or to taste
½ teaspoon Sugar
1 Curry Leaf sprig
¼ Cup Grated Coconut
¼ Cup Chopped Coriander Leaves

Steps:

Boil the  potato, cauliflower, carrot and set aside.
Heat oil in a thick bottom pan and Add mustard seeds. When they crackle add onions  along with  1 green chili and fry  until onion becomes slightly change the color it takes about 5  minutes.
To this add tomatoes, turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, ginger and garlic paste and water.
Cook  the paste  until oil separates from masalas.
Then add coconut milk and  rest of water  and all the vegetables.
Then add green chillies, salt, sugar and curry leaves.
cook till vegetables are soft / done.
Then add grated coconut and coriander leaves and serve.

Variations:

1. Add  your own choice of vegetables  if you want.



I am linking this delicious recipe to Hearth and Soul blog hop hosted here.
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More Goan curry.

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  1. The 21st Century Housewife© says

    Your vegetable stew looks delicious, Swathi, and I can just imagine how lovely it tastes with the coconut and spices.

    Reply

  2. Judy@SavoringToday says

    Love the flavors of curry with vegetables, especially when coconut is involved. This dish looks really good! 🙂

    Reply

  3. Mich PieceofCake says

    Oops I wonder what happened to my comment.. sorry if its a duplicate. I'm visiting through Cook Like A Star and this looks so delicious and I would love to have it with rice!

    Reply

  4. Mich PieceofCake says

    Hello, I came over through Cook Like A Star. This looks so delicious, I would love to have it with lots of rice!

    Reply

  5. Reeni Pisano says

    I love coconut curry Swathi! This is a great dish to make now with the weather changing. It looks warming and delicious. Your daughter must be so cute imitating you with the coconuts.

    Reply

  6. Renata says

    I just love coconut milk in savory dishes, it is a very common addition in Brazilian cuisine too, specially with fish and sea food.I wonder how delicious the vegetables became with the coconut.

    Reply

  7. kala says

    yummyyy way to eat all the veegies

    Reply

  8. simple baking says

    Hi Swathi,
    This looks such a heartwarming and "homely" dish. I love curries with coconut base.
    Thanx for joining us in this blog-hop. Greatly appreciated!
    Anuja

    Reply

  9. Rebecca Subbiah says

    this looks great like my mum in laws korma 🙂

    Reply

  10. Suryaprabha Parthasarathy says

    Usually we make this with aapam.. Goe well with it.. Loved the step by step pictures. Simply superb!

    http://aromaticdining.blogspot.com/

    Reply

  12. Elisabeth says

    Swathi, I just love, love this colorful and mildly spicy vegetable medley in the coconut stew. It's refreshing to know the different regions cooking from India. Your post is always so interesting, and educational...not to mention how sweet they are from your childhood, and combining your family with the stories in every recipe:) xo

    Reply

  13. Now Serving says

    Looks absolutely divine and delicious!!!

    Reply

  15. Swasthi says

    This looks so delicious Swathi! lovely clicks and nice presentation

    Reply

  16. Zoe says

    Hi Swathi,

    Nice to know thru Anuja and "Cook like a Star" blog hop event.

    Love the transform these simple vegetable ingredients to such a beautiful dish. Yum!

    Zoe

    Reply

    • Zoe says

      Hi Swathi,

      Thanks for following my blog. I'm your latest follower now at your blog, Pinterest and Twitter 😀

      Keep in touch 😀

      Zoe

      Reply

  17. Balvinder Ubi says

    Coconut milk just make everything tastes good.

    Reply

  18. Rosita Vargas says

    Se ve muy delicioso y linda presentación,abrazos hugs,hugs.

    Reply

  19. lata raja says

    I love the Kerala stew and so I am sure I will enjoy this one. What a fabulous stew with an even more exotic name 🙂

    Reply

  20. Az says

    Looks delicious and healthy - love the twist of coconut milk.

    Reply

  21. Hema says

    The name drove me here, delicious curry, as you have said, a cousin to our avial..

    Reply

  23. Sanoli Ghosh says

    Delicious Veg stew Swathi, looks awesome dear.

    Reply

  24. divya says

    Slurp, yummy and finger licking curry.

    Reply

  25. Premalatha Aravindhan says

    healthy recipe dear...very nice.

    Reply

  26. Hamaree Rasoi says

    How time flies na ..yesterday it was you now it is your daughter who does the same thing after seeing coconut :-)Stew looks delicious

    Reply

  27. Navaneetham Krishnan says

    Lovely Ms. We do have something like the same at home. Just that I have cut back on coconut milk and its once a while.

    So this recipe is one I adore and so good. I can imagine digging inside, floating into my rice.

    Reply

  29. Beena.stephy says

    Looks delicious and yummy

    Reply

    • Swathi Iyer says

      This is not onam recipe, it is goan recipe.

      Reply

  32. Priya says

    Totally agree with you,this stew sounds almost like aviyal..Inviting bowl.

    Reply

  33. Guru Uru says

    I admit the name intrigued me as well as soon as I saw the dish and it's ingredients 😀
    Looks like it had some stunning results 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

    Reply

  34. Vijayalakshmi Dharmaraj says

    wow so yumm.... best with chapathi/parotta... lovely one...
    bookmarked it...
    VIRUNTHU UNNA VAANGA

    Reply

  35. PT says

    looks divine..

    Reply

  36. tamilsasikitchen says

    Delicious Healthy stew....Looks yum...

    Reply

  38. Tina says

    Sounds delicious...

    Reply

  39. Shobha says

    Yummy stew.. I have eaten this with appams at my friend's place.

    Reply

  40. Amrita Vishal says

    Hi Swathi, such a great and healthy dish to start a lovely morning. I am sure your family must have loved it. Great to have you on board with Cook like a star- Masterchef series!!

    Reply

  42. radha says

    This looks like a mix of avial and stew and could only be better! I love the look of it.

    Reply

  43. srividhya Ravikumar says

    simply wow... very healthy recipe and easy to make too...

    Reply

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