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    Home » Recipes » Accompaniments

    Vegetable stew recipe, Appam side dish

    July 18, 2011 by Raks Anand 59 Comments / Jump to Recipe

    Vegetable stew recipe is side dish for appam and idiyappam. It is a coconut milk base, mild spiced flavourful dish. 

    vegetable stew recipe
    Vegetable stew

    You can prepare this for breakfast or dinner when ever you prepare appam or idiyappam.

    Check out my red rice puttu recipe in my website and idiyappam recipe that goes well with this stew.

    Jump to:
    • Side dish
    • Ingredients
    • My notes
    • Top tip
    • Recipe card
    • Vegetable stew method

    Side dish

    We always eat appam with sweetened (with jaggery) coconut milk.  But when we had our dinner last month in Mango tree restaurant here in SG, for appam we ordered Vegetable ishtu from their menu.

    Till then I have not tasted any stew. It was so simple, plain, pure white, with veggies and only the ginger flavour that wafted from the stew.

    For me it was smelling like the potato masala we make for poori, but with the richness of coconut milk and onion, it was just tasting and smelling divinely.

    vegetable stew
    Vegetable ishtu

    So I tried at home, with recipe partially adapted from Divya’s blog, as well as keeping in mind of what I had in the restaurant. I could not get the pure white they had, but tasted the same.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for vegetable stew
    Ingredients for stew
    • Onion
    • Ginger
    • Green chilli
    • Curry leaves
    • vegetables
    • Coconut milk

    See recipe card for full list and quantities.

    My notes

    I have updated this recipe with corn flour in it. The first time I tried, made without corn flour.

    Had no issues in coconut milk splitting. It was probably because my second extract is very thin and diluted with less fat.

    I used the Malaysia coconut which is different from the Indian ones. The second milk itself will be very very thin.

    While in Indian coconut, we can take 3 extracts. So the second milk also is pretty much fatty. It makes it easily split. That's why I have updated the recipe with corn starch.

    Even though I added after the veggies got cooked, I suggest to add along with the thin coconut milk step.

    This gives smoothest texture to the stew. Nonetheless in case you forget, add it like me later if you miss.

    Top tip

    • Do not add lots of oil as it will affect the look of the stew (texture too). Coconut milk have enough fat, we do not want more extra, haha!
    • You can have the boiled vegetables separately ready and add to the stew instantly. This gives most whitish stew.

    Can we use coconut milk powder or readymade coconut milk in cartons?

    Definitely yes. If using coconut milk powder (or coconut cream powder), prepare milk as per package instructions. For thin coconut milk, use it diluted with water.

    Same way, for carton coconut milk, dilute and use for thin coconut milk.

    Hint: While choosing carton coconut milk, avoid ones with thickening agents and go for organic and additive free by reading the ingredienst carefully.

    Recipe card

    vegetable-stew
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Vegetable stew recipe

    Vegetable stew recipe is an excellent side dish for appam and idiyappam. It is a coconut milk base, mild spiced flavourful dish. 
    Course Breakfast, Side Dish
    Cuisine Indian, South Indian
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Servings 3 people
    Cup measurements

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups Grated coconut from 1 large Indian coconut
    • 1 Carrot
    • 1 Potato
    • 7 Beans
    • 8 Cauliflower florets small bite size pieces
    • 1 teaspoon Corn flour corn starch
    • 1 tablespoon Ginger grated
    • 2 Green chilli slit
    • 1 sprig Curry leaves
    • Salt
    • 1 tablespoon Oil I used coconut oil
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    How to extract coconut milk for vegetable stew

    • Firstly grind the coconut with ½ to ¾ cup water in a mixie, till smooth.
    • Place a bowl with large metal strainer on top. Transfer the ground paste to it.
    • Squeeze the milk in small portions to collect thick extract. Set aside.
    • Transfer the squeezed coconut back to the mixie. Add 1 cup luke warm water to it. Blend again.
    • Again repeat the process to extract thin coconut milk. Set aside separately.

    Prepare stew

    • Cut the veggies to thin stripes as shown in the picture. Slit the green chillies and slice onion.
    • Heat pan with oil, add ginger, green chillies ,curry leaves, followed by onion.
    • Cook in medium flame, taking care, not to turn the onion colour. It should just be transparent.
    • Add the vegetables to it with 1 cup water, required salt and the thin coconut milk.
    • Dissolve 1 teaspoon corn flour (corn starch) in 1 tablespoon of water and add to it. This gives smooth texture to stew without coconut milk split. I added in next stage but recommend at this stage.
    • Bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Let the veggies cook (without over cooking).
    • Then add the thick coconut milk, just keep in low flame for a minute and put of the stove.
    • Garnish with few torn curry leaves.

    Video

    Notes

    • Try not to change the colour of onion as it will change the stew colour too…
    • I added the veggies that I saw in the restaurant, it had cauliflower. You can make it with just boiled potato as well. 
    YoutubeDo you like short videos? Subscribe now!
    InstagramMention @rakskitchen or tag #rakskitchen if you have tried this recipe.

    Vegetable stew method

    1. First grind the coconut with ½ – ¾ cup water and grind till smooth and extract the thick milk using a strainer.coconut ground
    2. Again add 1 cup warm water to the coconut gratings and grind for a minute.grind
    3. Collect thin coconut milk from the above.coconut milk
    4. Cut the veggies to thin stripes (I used baby beans) as shown in the picture. Slit the green chillies and onion. Heat pan with oil add ginger,green chillies ,curry leaves,followed by onion.( I tried adding bay leaf and cardamom, but took it off in the middle as it dominated the other flavors. So I omitted in the ingredients)onion
    5. Cook in medium flame, taking care, not to turn the onion colour. It should just be transparent. Boil the veggies with salt and the thin coconut milk along with this fried onion. Add corn flour dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water at this stage.
      simmer
    6. Let the veggies cook (without turning the veggies mushy),then add the thick coconut milk.
    7. just keep in low flame for a minute and put of the stove.
      ready

    Stew is ready to enjoy with aapam! The onion, ginger and curry leaves along with coconut milk makes the stew smell divinely!

    vegetable stew recipe
    Vegetable stew

    Other

    • Daangar pachadi | Urad dal powder raita
    • Brinjal Moju Recipe
    • Onion raita recipe, how to make onion raita
    • Pulikuthi kuzhambu recipe, Puli kuthi poricha kuzhambu

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kalpana Sareesh

      July 18, 2011 at 7:48 am

      Stew is a wonderful dish i loved it wen i first tasted at green park. Ur stew is so colorful n yumm i love it so much..

      Reply
    2. srividhya Ravikumar

      July 18, 2011 at 7:53 am

      wow..what a beautiful colour..love it Raks..

      Reply
    3. Shanthi

      July 18, 2011 at 8:06 am

      Love it Raks. Beautiful and awesome as ever.

      Reply
    4. Sharmilee! :)

      July 18, 2011 at 8:09 am

      Nice beautiful color u have got...I havent tasted stew yet...looks and sounds tempting. Luved the 2nd click

      Reply
    5. Nithya

      July 18, 2011 at 8:31 am

      Wow.. this stew sounds simple and delicious too. Rich coconut milk!! yummy I say 🙂

      Reply
    6. Radhika

      July 18, 2011 at 8:35 am

      My friend's mom uses white pepper powder and avoids green chillies and black pepper. lovely clicks Raji.

      Reply
    7. Nags

      July 18, 2011 at 10:06 am

      each time i see that corningware pathram of yours, i feel like buying one too.

      my dad's sis makes the best stew ever! i should get her recipe too. she doesn't add veg though, only potatoes 🙂

      Reply
    8. Divya

      July 18, 2011 at 10:08 am

      Hi Raji... we often make ishtu in our home only with potatoes as we all love it a lot... i normally boil onion, ginger, potato & just one green chilly together in thin coconut milk till everything gets cooked. finally i will add the thick coconut milk & a pinch of pepper powder and even before it starts boiling will switch off the stove. then add curry leaves & coconut oil, stir it & close the lid. i never used to saute or temper any of the items for ishtu... this way the color wil remain white throughout... Yours look colorful with different veggies... need to try your way...

      Reply
    9. Vimitha Anand

      July 18, 2011 at 10:31 am

      Simple and great side dish for aapams...

      Reply
    10. RAKS KITCHEN

      July 18, 2011 at 11:46 am

      Hi Divya, thanks much for letting me know the way you make, will sure try next time and make 'white' stew 🙂

      Reply
    11. Kaveri

      July 18, 2011 at 11:49 am

      Stew looks good...a great combo with aapams

      Reply
    12. S.Menaga

      July 18, 2011 at 11:50 am

      simply looks delicious....love it!!

      Reply
    13. lata raja

      July 18, 2011 at 11:54 am

      White or not, you have one fabulous looking ishtu here Raks. I always tell friends that I can never get the colour that my friend Princy makes...so I think, it is okay to not have exactly the same. this one is evry nice too!

      Reply
    14. Suman Singh

      July 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm

      delicious and healthy looking stew..

      Reply
    15. vidhas

      July 18, 2011 at 2:39 pm

      Stew looks yum!! my mom adds green chili and garlic. great clicks.

      Reply
    16. Suja

      July 18, 2011 at 2:57 pm

      Beautiful,looks perfect and tempting.

      Reply
    17. Cilantro

      July 18, 2011 at 3:01 pm

      Looks flavorful Raks, The green chilli variety adds the color to it try the spicier Thai chilli or the osi milagai one(if you have`nt done so) for more white color. We add just the Potatoand may the carrot does add some color too.

      Reply
    18. Hamaree Rasoi

      July 18, 2011 at 3:31 pm

      Stew looks so delicious and comforting. Loved the presentation.

      Deepa

      Reply
    19. Nitha

      July 18, 2011 at 3:46 pm

      Perfect one.. You know what.. I love to have this with any dish.. appam/puttu/chapathi or even rice 🙂

      Reply
    20. Aruna

      July 18, 2011 at 5:58 pm

      Hey looks good... I used to make similar stew for appam... I add peppercorns and finish off with lime juice for that citrus kick...

      Reply
    21. Sayantani

      July 18, 2011 at 7:10 pm

      we loved this on our last trip to Kerala. refreshing stew.

      Reply
    22. Anonymous

      July 18, 2011 at 7:11 pm

      Ooo.. Its one of my fav Kerala dishes 😀 Yumm.. Yours looks yummy.. I mostly make it with potatoes alone though! 🙂

      Reply
    23. [email protected]

      July 18, 2011 at 7:24 pm

      Recreating dishes we ate in restaurant is fun. It makes me happy when it is pretty close to what I tasted. This stew looks delicious and my friend's mom prepares it the same way.

      Reply
    24. Shanavi

      July 18, 2011 at 11:02 pm

      Sooper Raks..Looks so rich n delicious and looks so vibrant..

      Reply
    25. divya

      July 18, 2011 at 11:49 pm

      Healthy and tasty stew..Looks great!

      Reply
    26. ANU

      July 19, 2011 at 1:23 am

      wow...very colorful dear....perfect plating

      Reply
    27. Anonymous

      July 19, 2011 at 2:16 am

      we once had idiyappam with chicken stew in chennai and were simply bowled over by its mere simplicity, loved ur presentation...looks very yummy

      Reply
    28. Rekha shoban

      July 19, 2011 at 2:44 am

      delicious curry for appams....healthy one!!nice click raji!

      Reply
    29. Divya Kudua

      July 19, 2011 at 2:47 am

      I make it with potatoes too once in a while.Try this with Idiyappam--tastes awesome!!

      Reply
    30. Torviewtoronto

      July 19, 2011 at 4:04 am

      this looks delicious lovely colourful stew
      love the colour of the gravy

      Reply
    31. hemalata

      July 19, 2011 at 4:37 am

      Yummy stew,looks so healthy and colorful.

      Reply
    32. Hari Chandana

      July 19, 2011 at 5:57 am

      Wowwww... Delicious looking stew.. colorful and tempting recipe... truly delicious 🙂

      Reply
    33. Prathibha

      July 19, 2011 at 6:27 am

      Appam n stew is another fav combo of mine..ur stew looks delicious...

      Reply
    34. Sharmilee! :)

      July 19, 2011 at 8:23 am

      test

      Reply
    35. jeyashrisuresh

      July 19, 2011 at 9:21 am

      Since I am not a big fan of coconut milk I have never tried anything adding that. This sounds so interesting and very colorful too

      Reply
    36. Bharathy

      July 19, 2011 at 9:24 am

      The coconutty kerala way of side dish which rocks with appams 🙂
      Looks pretty and colorful, raks 🙂

      * I have a habit of waiting for the first comment after done with a new post 🙂
      Hugs for doing it, Raks 🙂

      off for my afternoon nap 🙂

      Reply
    37. GEETHA ACHAL

      July 19, 2011 at 10:14 am

      Me too always love appam and thenkkai pal...Sure want to try kurma too...Lovely pics...Thanks for sharing...

      Reply
    38. Premalatha Aravindhan

      July 19, 2011 at 1:10 pm

      Delicious stew,the colour is so gud...

      Reply
    39. aipi

      July 19, 2011 at 6:44 pm

      The color you got is so nice ~ very authentic n delcious recipe!
      US Masala

      Reply
    40. Uma

      July 20, 2011 at 12:09 am

      I only heard abt it. Now only looking them. Must give a try.

      Cheers,
      Uma
      http://umaskitchenexperiments.blogspot.com

      Reply
    41. VS

      July 20, 2011 at 1:06 am

      Wonderful stew. I love them with appam and also idiyappam.

      Reply
    42. Priti

      July 20, 2011 at 5:09 am

      So this was you were talking about ....looks yum ..that white colour is really gud

      Reply
    43. Mahi

      July 20, 2011 at 6:00 am

      Oru thengala irunthu paal edukkanumaa? remba rich recipe..but still,Wow..the stew looks wonderful Raji! 😛 😛
      All the veggies are in their original colour..nicely done!

      Reply
    44. Happy Cook / Finla

      July 20, 2011 at 12:14 pm

      Wowo i am really surprised to hear that you have not had stew till then, back at home we always had apams with stew or kadal curry etc or aslo like you said with sweetend coconut milk but then with sugar not jaggery, this stew looks super yumm.

      Reply
    45. Laavanya

      July 20, 2011 at 1:35 pm

      We had this exact combination for Sunday breakfast - so was thrilled to see you post it the next day! 🙂

      Reply
    46. Sanctified Spaces

      July 20, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      Looks so delicate and yummy. Its a classic combination.Another bookmark.

      Reply
    47. DEESHA

      July 20, 2011 at 5:20 pm

      That is a beautiful looking side dish . Lovely stew

      Reply
    48. Ramya Bala

      July 21, 2011 at 1:12 am

      I love ishtu :)looks very tempting raji :)))beautiful pictures

      Reply
    49. Shobha

      July 21, 2011 at 4:35 am

      Love the appams with stew.. it is a very light dish and also has all the veggies.

      Reply
    50. Sarah

      July 21, 2011 at 5:15 am

      gorgeous pics! the stew looks awesome! this is a fav combo in my house too

      Reply
    51. Rinku Naveen

      July 21, 2011 at 1:17 pm

      Stu looks superb..Its one of the fav at home with appam and puttu. Never thought of adding cauliflower. Mainly potatoes and carrot. Yeah its difficult to get that white colour. Beautiful clicks Raji..

      Reply
    52. Harini

      July 21, 2011 at 5:33 pm

      Hi Raks!

      Just love your blog and the pics ! I was searching for a nice aapam recipe for a long time then saw this stew recipe and your aapam beside the stew in one of the pictures. Then I knew you must have an aapam recipe in your blog and finally found it! Going to try making the aapam along with this delicious looking stew.! Just a suggestion - link the aapam recipe also to this page so it would be easier to find for ppl like me 😉

      Harini - http://hariniscorner.blogspot.com/

      Reply
    53. Vibaas

      July 24, 2011 at 12:01 pm

      raji, i have heard of this, but never tried this. sounds yummy.

      Reply
    54. Sushma Mallya

      July 25, 2011 at 8:23 am

      I love veg stew ..looks so delicious Raji...lovely click as well 🙂

      Reply
    55. Vaanisree

      July 31, 2011 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      Hi Raji.. i have became a very big fan of u nowadays. I have tried more than 15 - 20 items from ur website. and yesterday i did this veg stew for palappam(bought this ready mix aapam) .. and the combo was great.I did the same as u have mentioned here with the proportions and quantity. it came up delicious and tastier. U believe it or not,i prepared enough quantity and at last i was kept only a small cup of it for taste. The whole bowl of stew was emptied by my kid and hubby . and gave some to my mom for taste. Thanks for sharing all lovely tasty yummy recipes. keep going....

      Vaazhga valamudan

      Reply
    56. Vaanisree

      July 31, 2011 at 9:07 am

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Reply
    57. RAKS KITCHEN

      August 01, 2011 at 4:34 am

      Thank you vaani for the feedback and the nice words 🙂
      Harini, thanks 🙂 will post more authentic aapam recipe,mine is the way i make 🙂 So watch out for another aapam recipe, hope you made aapam and stew and liked ...

      Reply
    58. Neets

      April 25, 2012 at 10:50 pm

      Hi raks,

      I will be cooking this stew tonight and posting it on my blog hopefully by tomorrow. i've started a new blog called neetustastytreats.blogspot.com. Do chk it out when you're free. You have alovely blog btw! The detailed step by step pics make it so much more easier! Cheers and keep up the good work!

      Reply
    59. saumya

      February 09, 2014 at 1:15 pm

      Dear raks

      I have tried some of ur recipies nd it came out really well. I use to make an easy version of stew. I take a cooker nd add my onion, ginger, green chillie 2 just for smell not for spicy, veg (potatoes, carrot, beans nd forzen peas) and salt nd leaa than half cup of water. Pressure cook this for 1 whistle. After pressure settles add thick coconut milk, pepper powder nd check the consistancy. Switch off the flame nd add curry leaves nd drops of coconut oil. Close the lid till u serve.

      Reply

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    Raks anand

    Hi, I'm Rajeswari Vijayanand! I am the person behind Rakskitchen, sharing recipes with pictures & videos.

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