A little smile. A word of cheer. A bit of love from someone near. A little gift from one held dear. Best wishes for the coming year. These make a Merry Christmas! I am wishing all my friends a Merry Christmas!!
Nothing hits a beautiful days breakfast than a rich and steaming bowl of kerala vegetable stew and appam. Keralas appam and stew is a thing of beauty. It’s the perfect embodiment of what Kerala breakfast recipes are all about – rice flour, some fermenting, light on the stomach, easily digestible, and also, a bit time-consuming aswell. Cruise down the culinary art of Kerala with this easy, pillowy soft appams, and a deliciously creamy vegetable stew to mop them up with.
With few of our fellow bloggers we have created a food group in Facebook where we met few amazing food bloggers and food photographers outside word press. We would get to learn more from them. If you are interested please join with us in Foodie art files
Kerala Vegetable Stew
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
serves -4
Ingredients
Potato – peeled and chopped into small cubes – 1 nos
Mixed Vegetables (I used frozen mixed veggies with carrots, green beans, green peas and corn) – 1 cup ( if using fresh vegetables cut them into small cubes)
Onion – sliced – 1 nos
Coconut Milk – fresh or canned – ½ cup
Coconut cream – 6 teaspoon
Cinnamon stick – small piece
Cloves – 4 nos
Green chilies – slit 2 to 3
Ginger – small piece(chopped)
Garlic – 3 cloves (chopped)
Curry leaves- 2 sprigs
to taste Salt
Method.
- In a pan of boiling water cook root vegetables at the beginning, green vegetables towards the end and frozen peas and sweetcorn at the last minute. Keep under running water. Cool it and keep aside. Keep the stock for the stew.
- Heat 3 tsp oil in a pan; add cinnamon, cloves and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add onions, green chilies, ginger and garlic and curry leaves. Cook until onions turn translucent, don’t cook the onions to brown.
- Cook for 3/4 minutes, then add the coconut milk and ½ cup of stock we saved earlier. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and add the cooked vegetables. Simmer for few minutes.
- Season with salt and add the coconut cream. Mix well and cook for 2 more minutes. Serve hot with appams.
Note – To get an authentic Kerala Vegetable Stew, cashew paste mixed with coconut milk is used as an additional ingredient to add thickness and richness to the stew. If you want to thicken your stew, thicken it with corn flour.
Ingredients for Appam:
Raw rice or Idly rice – 2 cups
Fully cooked rice – 1 cup
Shredded coconut – 1 cup or subsitute with Coconut milk – 3/4 cup)
Sugar – 2 tsp
Salt to taste
Water
Dried Yeast / Fast action yeast – 1 tsp
Bicarbonate of Soda/ Baking soda – 1/2 tsp
Preparation of appam batter:
- Soak the raw/idly rice in water over night.
- Add cooked rice, coconut, sugar, salt to the rice and grind it to a smooth batter.
- If you are using coconut milk, add it after grinding. The batter should be a pouring consistency and a little thinner than dosa batter.
- Add yeast and baking soda to the batter and mix well. Keep this batter overnight for fermentation.
- In winter, it takes more time to ferment, so keep it in a warm place.
Making the appam:
- Appams are traditionally made in iron skillet called “appa chatti”. You get these in Indian grosery shops. You get to buy Iron skillets and non stick pans.
- Appams have a soft fluffy centre and a lacy border which comes very well on iron skillet.
- Pour a ladle full of batter (approx 6 tbsp) appam pan and swirl it immediately. A thin later of the batter sticks to the sides of the pan and a small pool of batter in the middle.
- Cover with a lid and cook on low flame till the center of the appam is cooked and the lacy border starts getting detached from the pan
- Take out when it is cooked from the middle and crispy in the borders.
- Appam is ready to serve with vegetable stew.
Tips for fast fermentation of batter in cold weather.
Great places to keep your batter to rise:
1. Near radiator
2. Heat your oven less than 50 degrees for about 15 minutes and then switch off. Leave your batter inside.
Connect me on face book – Sumith Babu
This is a hot favourite in Srilanka too.Aappa in Sinhala and Hoppers in English as its called😊
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I heard of aappa, I had some sinhales friends. It’s seems our food tastes bit similar. Wish for a holiday to Srilanka one day.
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Yes! We do have Idi appam/ String hoppers too.And we even use a lot of coconut for our curries.
Maybe I will do some food posts as well in time to come😀😀
Of course you should make a visit someday 😊
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Wow looking forward for your food posts. It seems so many similarities in our food. I am from kerala the southern state of India, it’s not too far from Sri Lanka, could swim to reach you there 🏊😅. Will definitely visit Sri Lanka one day.😍
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Absolutely!! So close and its said that SriLanka was once connected by land with Kerala many years ago.
And would you believe that our village damsels attire is also the same, The cloth and jacket 😉
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You are tempting me more to visit Sri Lanka. Will be there soon.😊
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All the best👍
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Wow–that is so cute. I’ll have to think of a presentation for Hanukkah next year!
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Thank you Miller. Presentation of food add up the spice of enjoying food😍
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Thank you for your like of my “Destination: Panera Bread Cafe Newly Opened in South Windsor, CT.” Your Kerala recipe sounds very interesting. And I agree with Nandini your photo presentation is terrific ! – Jackie
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Jackie, thanks for those amazing bouquet of words!! Between how do you know Nandini😊 As a blog friend or coligue.
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Unbelievable! Is this real food or a piece of art to admire? Sumith, you have outdone yourself!
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Thank a lot Dolly for your inspirational words!!
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You e more than welcome! I really wouldn’t know what to do with something like this – eat it or admire it!
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Eat with your eyes first!! Then trigger all your senses and enjoy food😍😍
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The advantage of eating with your eyes is no weight gain!
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Haha very true Dolly
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Awesome presentation Sumith. So inviting. Appam is my all time favourite.
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Thanks a lot Priya 😊
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It looks delicious. I think I cannot cooking the dough, it’s very hard. But I try to do. Thanks for the useful tips.
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It’s not hard. Once the batter is fermented then you can’t go wrong😊. Give it a try Beth, you can do it😙
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Love your presentation with Mr Clause 🙂 Happy New Years!
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Thanks a lot Nandini. And wishing you a Happy New Year!!
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Amazing Sumith! Happy new year to you!
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Thanks a lot Rashmi and Happy New Year to you and your family.
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Beautiful, outstanding presentation…
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Thanks a lot dear Ruchi.😊
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It looks great too, I am sure tastes much better 😊
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Thank you Alok. Yes indeed, it was very nice.
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Wow Sumith.. I missed this post previously… so sorry! This is so adorable and looks amazing – what a Xmas treat… I wish you a magical 2017 where your dreams come true! x
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Thank you Wendy and wishing you and your family too a amazing year 2017!!
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Thanks Sumith – much appreciated! x
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😊:-)
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How can food look so gorgeous? :)) Well done!
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Thank you Astha for this beautiful bouquet of words!!
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Love the presentation, it gave me such a smile. Wishing you all the best in this New Year, Sumith.
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Thanks a lot Karen. And wishing you and your family a Happy New Year.
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Awesome, Sumith. I was so engrossed with the pictures that I forgot to pay heed to the recipe! Then I again scrolled up and read it… 😀
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Thank you Mani for your inspirational words!!
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Happy New Year Sumith. I am including a link to your Dal Chawal post in my “52 Weeks of Thankfulness” post scheduled for tomorrow. I trust that this is OK with you?
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Hi Brigid, it’s my pleasure and an honour to me😍😍 And wishing you a happy New Year.
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Lovely presentation of a delicious recipe. You take cooking to another level with your creativity.
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Thanks a lot Jayashree. Thank you for your sweet words. 😊
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Happy new year!
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Happy New Year!
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Happy new year 2017 Sumith!
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Thank you Khadija. Happy New Year!
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To you too😊
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The presentation is awesome, and perfect for this holiday season. Happy New Year!
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Thank you Sheryl and Wishing you too a Happy New Year!!
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Very creative😄 Love it🎄
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Thank you Leyla😊
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A treat as always 🙂
Wish you an amazing transition into the next year!
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Thank your Pragalbha. And wishing you and your family a Happy New Year!!
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Thank you!
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😊:-)
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Beautiful and creative!
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Thanks a lot Chris!
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A sumptuous Christmas creation, Sumith! Belated wishes to you and your family!
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Thanks a lot Pranitha. Belated wishes to you and your family too.
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You are an artist. Well done. 🌟✨💫
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Gail those words really mentioned for me. I am honoured!! Thanks a lot. And hope you are having a great holiday time.
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I meant it. Keep doing a fine job!
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Awesome presentation. Looks delicious!!!!
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Thank a lot 😊
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Wow you made a Christmas snow globe for your presentation! Very impressive! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day!
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Thank you Kathryn. We had a great Christmas!! Hope you too had a great one!!
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We did, thanks!
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Looks wonderful, and a healthy offset to all the rich holiday food many of us have been eating. Yum!
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Thank a lot for this wonderful comment Vanessa. I am blessed 😊 wishing you and your family a nice holiday!!
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This is one of my favorite Kerala dishes Sumith. Thanks for sharing the recipe – will try it.
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You are very welcome Vibha 😊
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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours. 🙂
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Thank you Kash Pal!! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas to you!
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Merry Christmas and have a nice Holiday!!
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Nice… Easy and simple recipes… I like it very much.. Authentic touch of kerela
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Thank you Swetha! And nice to see you here in WordPress.
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Delicious!!
Happy X’mas..
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Merry Christmas!!
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Did I hear you say it was time for a nap? Okay…
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Thank you. And wishing you too a Merry Christmas!
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Such a lovely festive presentation, Sumith. The recipe sounds really nice too. Hope you had a lovely day.
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Thanks a lot Robbie😊
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Thanks Robbie.😊
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Wah Sumith bhai all of this looks so good. Merry Christmas to you and your family and A very happy new year. 🙂
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Thank you Kumar Bhai. Wishing you too a Merry Christmas and Happy New year!!
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🙂
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Lovely ,sumptuous dish well presented to the time of the year– Merry Christmas
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Thank you Jain Chetta. Wishing you a Merry Christmas!!
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The BEST ever representation of veg stew with appam😍😍 wishing you Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!☃🎄🎉
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Thank you Sonia. And wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New year!!
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That looks divine! Needless to say, the presentation is exquisite 👏🏻👏🏻 Happy Holidays:)
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Thanks a lot Divya for your beautiful inspirational words. And wishing you a Merry Christmas!!
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This is beautiful. It’s hard to believe that it’s edible too.
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Thanks a lot carol for your beautiful bouquet of words!! And wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!!
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And to you! Enjoy the day!
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Merry Christmas Sumith you continue to amaze and inspire me with your beautiful creations. Love this dish it looks like a snow globe only edible. Beautifully done my friend 🎄🎄🎄❤❤❤
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Thanks a lot Suzanne for your beautiful inspirational words!! And wishing you too a Merry Christmas!!
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hahaha Sumith – our traditional Sunday breakfast – every Sunday!!!! I wish you and your family a wonderful, relaxing, peaceful and safe CHRISTMAS.
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Thank you Carina. Haha Sunday breakfast😊 very true. And wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and prosperous New Year too!!
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Awesome capture..Lovely presentation.. Happy Christmas Sumith 🙂
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Thanks a lot Sharmila. And wishing you a Merry Christmas!
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The ever best composition 👍👍
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Thank you Akhika. And wishing you a Merry Christmas!
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Awesome presentation Sumith. Wishing a Merry Christmas to you and your family and a very Happy New Year.
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Thank you Anuradha😊 And wishing you the same!!
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Thank you so much Sumith.
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😊:)
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Simply Nice, Merry Christmas
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Thank you Deepa. And wishing you a Merry Christmas!!
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Wow! This is amazing; keeping with the festive spirit the presentation does spread happiness. Beautiful!
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Thank you Amitav and wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!
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Wishing Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year to you too, Sumith.
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Sumith! I just loved that image.
One feels to hold your dish like 🎅 Santa.
Merry Christmas
👌🙏❤🎅🍦🌋🎂
Shiva
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Thanks a lot Shiva 😊 And wishing you a Merry Christmas!!
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Simply awesome Sumith 😍👏
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Thank you Radhika. And wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New year!!
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