CABBAGE CURRY (PORIYAL)

Rice is a staple food of south India. Vegetables are consumed as side dishes. In olden days people mostly used the home grown indigenous vegetables. After the British rule, other vegetables also started appearing in the dining tables of the Indians. Cabbage is one such vegetable. Each of the southern states has its own way of cooking cabbage. My recipe is for the Kerala version of cabbage curry.

Preparation Time: 10 mts Cooking Time: 10 mts Serves: 2

INGREDIENTS:

Cabbage - 1/4 kg

Refined oil - 1 tsp

Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp

Salt - to taste

TO GRIND :

Red chillies - 2 nos

Shredded coconut - 2 tbsp

Method:

Cut or shred the cabbage into thin fine pieces. Grind the coconut & the chillies without water so that the coconut just gets powdered. In a non-stick pan, pour the oil. When the oil gets heated up add the mustard seeds & allow it to splatter. Then add the shredded cabbage & enough salt. Bring the gas to low heat. Cover the pan with a lid & cook the cabbage. Sprinkle some water in between if needed. Cook till the cabbage is tender & the water is all evaporated. Add the powdered coconut & saute it for 2 minutes. Switch off the stove. Cabbage curry is ready.

VARIATIONS:

Cabbage can be cooked in various ways. We can cook it without the coconut also. This will give it a fresh green appearance. Alternately, we can cook it along with some fresh green peas to enhance the green look. Onions can also be added for a different flavour.

TIPS:

1. Adding a pod of garlic while grinding the coconut will give an added flavour to the garlic lovers.


2. While making cabbage without coconut, slice 2 green chillies. Sprinkle the cut cabbage with some salt. Add the sliced chillies & make it into a heap. Keep this in a slanting position in a tray for 10 mts. This will make the water in the cabbage to come out. Then squeeze the rest of the water out of the cabbage & cook it as said above. Add salt only if required. This will help to minimise the smell of cabbage.


3. We can also add a little soda bi carbonate while cooking the cabbage. This will help to retain the green colour.

Try it & enjoy.