Introduction:
Veg Kolhapuri Recipe
Veg Kolhapuri Recipe: Veg Kolhapuri, a flavorful mixed vegetable curry with a thick and spicy coconut-based gravy, is a renowned dish in Maharashtrian cuisine. This popular curry, often featured on North Indian restaurant menus, derives its aromatic and spicy profile from a specially crafted Kolhapuri curry masala powder. Known for its cultivation of hot red chilies, Kolhapur contributes to the bold and spicy flavor that defines this dish. The unique process involves creating the Kolhapuri curry masala with dry-roasted red chilies, coconut, and various spices. The masala is then used to cook boiled or steamed mixed vegetables such as French beans, carrot, potato, green peas, capsicum, tomato, and onion, with the addition of milk for an authentic taste and texture. This recipe, accompanied by step-by-step photos, detailed instructions, and useful tips, makes it easy to prepare this flavorful dish at home, allowing for customization according to personal preferences.
Ingredients:
Veg Kolhapuri Recipe
For Masala:
- 1/3 cup Dry Coconut, grated or thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon Dry Coriander Seeds
- 2 Dry Kashmiri Red Chilli* (adjust for spice preference)
- 1 teaspoon Poppy Seeds (or watermelon seeds or 3 cashew nuts)
- 1½ teaspoons Sesame Seeds (til)
- 1/2 inch piece of Cinnamon
- 2 Cloves
- 3 Black Peppercorns (optional)
- Seeds of 1/2 Black Cardamom (or 1 green cardamom)
For Sabji:
- 1/3 cup Potato, cut lengthwise
- 1/3 cup French Beans, cut into long pieces
- 1/3 cup Green Peas (fresh or frozen)
- 1/3 cup Carrot, cut lengthwise
- 1/3 cup Capsicum, cut lengthwise
- 1/4 teaspoon Fennel Seeds (saunf)
- 1 large Onion, sliced (approx. 1/2 cup)
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 medium Tomato, finely chopped (approx. 1/3 cup)
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- Salt to taste
- 1/3 cup Milk, optional (or 1/3 cup water)
- 1/3 cup Water
- 2 tablespoons Oil
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped Coriander Leaves, for garnishing
Directions:
Veg Kolhapuri Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Masala
- Dry roast all the masala ingredients until aromatic (coconut, dry coriander seeds, dry Kashmiri red chilli, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, cinnamon, cloves, black peppercorns, and black cardamom seeds). This takes around 1-2 minutes.
Step 2: Grind Masala
- Transfer the roasted spices to a plate and let them cool. Grind them into a smooth powder using a mixer grinder.
Step 3: Prepare Vegetables
- Cut all vegetables lengthwise. Boil or steam potatoes, French beans, carrot, and green peas until 90% cooked (about 7-8 minutes). They should be crunchy, not mushy.
Step 4: Cooking
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan. Add fennel seeds and sauté for 15 seconds. Add sliced onions, sauté until translucent, then add ginger-garlic paste. Sauté for a minute.
Step 5: Add Capsicum and Tomato
- Add sliced capsicum, chopped tomatoes, and salt. Sauté until tomatoes soften (around 3-4 minutes).
Step 6: Add Masala
- Add the prepared masala powder and turmeric powder. Mix well and cook for a minute.
Step 7: Add Vegetables
- Add steamed/boiled vegetables (do not add water). If no salt was added while steaming/boiling veggies, add salt to taste.
Step 8: Cooking
- Stir and cook for 2 minutes.
Step 9: Add Milk and Water
- Add 1/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup water (or use water drained from boiled vegetables).
Step 10: Final Cooking
- Mix well and cook until you achieve the desired gravy consistency (around 4-5 minutes). Turn off the flame and garnish Veg Kolhapuri Sabzi with fresh coriander leaves.
Tips and Variations:
Veg Kolhapuri Recipe
- Add salt while steaming or boiling veggies for enhanced taste.
- Adjust spice levels by using fewer Kashmiri red chillies or omitting them and adding red chilli powder separately.
- Replace poppy seeds with 1 teaspoon of watermelon seeds or 3-4 cashew nuts if unavailable.
- Experiment with additional vegetables like cauliflower, ash gourd, broccoli, or paneer for added variety.
Taste: Very Spicy with a Mild Coconut Flavor
Serving Ideas: Enjoy Veg Kolhapuri with butter garlic naan, sliced onion salad, and a glass of lassi for lunch or dinner. It pairs well with phulka roti, chapatti, or paratha.
Conclusion:
In summary, Veg Kolhapuri Recipe is a flexible recipe you can customize to your taste. Play with the spices, vegetables and accompaniments while keeping the authentic Kolhapuri masala as the flavor base. Enjoy this veggie delight for a memorable meal!
FAQs
about Veg Kolhapuri Recipe:
Q1: How can I adjust the spiciness of Veg Kolhapuri Recipe?
You can control the heat level by reducing or omitting the Kashmiri red chilies. Adding red chili powder separately also allows you to customize the spiciness to your taste.
Q2: Can I make Veg Kolhapuri Recipe without milk?
Yes, you can substitute milk with water if you prefer. Just adjust the amount based on the consistency you want.
Q3: What vegetables can I add to Veg Kolhapuri?
You can experiment with cauliflower, ash gourd, broccoli, paneer or other veggies of your choice. This adds nice variety to the dish.
Q4: What are some good side options for Veg Kolhapuri Recipe?
Great complements include butter garlic naan, onion salad, lassi, phulka roti, chapatti or paratha. Veg Kolhapuri makes a tasty lunch or dinner.
Q5: Is it possible to make the Kolhapuri masala ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare larger batches of the masala and store in an airtight container. This allows for quick cooking when you want to make Veg Kolhapuri.
