Vellai Kurma - Veg Kurma

 

  Vellai (White) Kurma is very famous veg gravy which goes well with Chapathi, Parotta, Appam & Idiyappam. As the kurma is white in colour, the kurma got its name Vellai (white) kurma. Vellai is the tamil name for white. Now, let us get into the recipe.

Youtube Video link - Vellai Kuruma

Ingredients:

1. Mixed Veggies - I have used Carrots, Beans, Peas, Potato, Cauliflower. You can also use Chayote, Bottle gourd, Turnip etc

2. Onion - half

3. Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 Spoon

4. Green chilli - as per taste

5. Curd - 2 Spoons (or) Lemon Juice - Half Spoon

6. Curry leaves - few

7. Mint leaves - few

8. Coriander leaves - few

To grind :

1. Coconut - 1/2 cup

2. Cashew - few

3. Roasted chana dal - 1 Spoon

4. Cinnamon - 1 small stick

5. Cloves - 3 to 4

6. Black Stone Flower (Kalpasi) - few

7. Fennel Seeds - 1 Spoon

To temper:

1. Bay Leaf - 1

2. Cardamom - 2

3. Cloves - few

4. Cinnamon - 1 small stick

5. Black stone flower - few

6. Star  Anise - 1

Recipe:

1. Heat Oil in a pan and temper all items under the table "To Temper".

2. Add chopped Onion, Green chilli and Ginger-Garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes away. Adding a bit salt will quicken the process

3. Add all the vegetables except cauliflower and saute for few minutes. 

4. Add water and enough salt, close the pan and cook the veggies.

5. Grind the ingredients under the table "To grind" into a fine paste adding some water.

6. Once the veggies are half cooked, add the cauliflower and cook.

7. Once the veggies are almost cooked, add the ground paste and cook.

8. Once the kurma is boiled well, add the beaten curd or lemon juice and cook for few minutes.

9. After few minutes, add chopped coriander leaves and switch off the flame.

10. Delicious Vellai kurma is ready!!!!

Notes:

1. You can also grind green chillies along with the "to grind" ingredients.

2. Do not skip adding curd or lemon. As there is no tomatoes in the kurma, the sourness is given by curd or lemon. Also it enhances the taste of kurma.

3. There is no hard rule in the vegetables added to the kurma. That depends on your wish and availability.