Vegetable Curry

Recipe by: Victoria Blashford-Snell, Brigitte Hafner | from The Illustrated Kitchen Bible

Cookstr

Course: Main Course

Total Time: Under 1 Hour

Skill Level: Easy

Cost: Moderate

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In Indian cooking, cardamom, cloves, coriander, and cumin seeds are all considered "warming spices" that heat the body from within, making this an excellent winter dish. Good with lots of basmati rice or naan bread.

Yield: 4–6 servings

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup vegetable oil
10 oz (300g) red-skinned potatoes, diced
5 green cardamom pods, crushed
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tsp peeled and grated fresh ginger
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
1½ tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
One 14.5 oz (411g) can chopped tomatoes
Pinch of sugar
2 carrots, diced
2 fresh hot green chiles, seeded (optional) and sliced into thin rounds
1 cup sliced Savoy or green cabbage
1 cup cauliflower florets
1 cup thawed frozen peas
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Toasted sliced almonds, to garnish

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan over high heat. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain.

2. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon, and cumin seeds and stir until the spices are very fragrant. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the ginger, garlic, turmeric, and coriander, and season with salt and pepper. Stir for 1 minute.

3. Stir in the tomatoes with their juices and the sugar. Return the potatoes to the pan, add the carrots, chiles, and 1 cup of water, and bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the carrots are just tender, adding a little water if needed.

4. Stir in the cabbage, cauliflower, and peas. Return the heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in the cilantro and season again. Remove and discard the cardamom pods and cloves. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with almonds, and serve hot.

Variation: Paneer and Vegetable Curry

Heat a large frying pan over high heat. Add a thin layer of vegetable oil. When the oil is shimmering hot, add bite-sized cubes of paneer and fry until golden brown on all sides. Drain on paper towels. Stir into the curry just before serving, taking care not to break the paneer.