Six-vegetable curry

4 Servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1largeAll Purpose Potato; Peeled And Cut Into 3/4-Inch Cubes
1largeSweet Potato; Peeled And Cut Into 3/4-Inch Cubes
2mediumsTurnips; Peeled And Cut Into 3/4-Inch Cubes
2largesZucchini; Sliced Crosswise Into 1-Inch Thick Slices
½largeEggplant; Cut Into 3/4-Inch Cubes, About 12 Ounces
12eachesStringbeans; Cut Into 2-Inch Lengths
3tablespoonsSafflower Or Canola Oil
2largesOnions; Finely Chopped
1teaspoonCumin Seeds
½cupChickpea Flour; (Besan)
1teaspoonFenugreek; Ground
6Fresh Green Chiles; Such As New Mexico, Finely Chopped (Seeded And De-ribbed If You LIke It Less Hot)
2tablespoonsFresh Ginger; Minced
1tablespoonCoriander; Ground
1teaspoonTumeric; Ground
1teaspoonDark Brown Sugar
1teaspoonSalt
4mediumsTomatoes; Peeled And Coarsely Chopped
4Bay Leaves
1tablespoonTamarind Concentrate; Dissolved In 3 Tb Hot Water OR
1tablespoonMolasses; Dissolved In 3 Tb Lemon Juice
¼cupFresh Coriander; Chopped, (Cilantro)

Directions

Place the potato, sweet potato, turnips, zucchini, eggplant and string beans in a large bowl of ice water. Heat the oil in a large enameled cast-iron casserole. Add the onions and cumin seeds and cook over moderately low heat, stirring until the onions soften, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the chickpea flour and fenugreek and cook, stirring until the chickpea flour becomes a paste and browns slightly, 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour in 2 cups of warm water and bring to a boil, over moderately high heat. Cook, stirring, until the gravy begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Add 2 more cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the gravy reduces and thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chiles, ginger, ground coriander, tumeric, brown sugar, and salt and cook for 5 minutes longer, stirring gently. Drain the vegetables and add them to the gravy. Stir in the tomatoes and bay leaves, cover and cook until the vegetables are tender but not mushy, about 20 to 30 minutes. (If making this dish ahead, under cook the vegetables slightly.

Refrigerated the dish for up to 2 days. When re-heating the mixture, add ½ cup of water and bring to a simmer over moderate heat before proceeding.) Stir in the tamarind mixture and the fresh coriander and cook, uncovered for 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves and serve.

NOTE:

Serve with cooling fresh Pineapple for those that do not like the heat.

Posted by: Rich Harper From: Food And Wine April 1994