I love this vegetable curry! The recipe was conceived by my Mom and when I asked her for it, I was so surprised by its simplicity.
There’s no fancy curry powder or spices involved and best of all, the ingredients needed are ridiculously cheap. You can make a massive pot and eat it from morning to supper :D
# – Cast of characters – A bowl of peeled and chopped potatoes, a bowl of diced onions, some fried tofu (if you like them), chopped ladies fingers, chopped long beans, chopped cabbage, chopped garlic, 2 or 3 stalks of lemongrass, half a handful of curry leaves, 1 cut red chilli with seeds removed, a small carton of coconut milk and most importantly….chilli paste (chili boh/cili giling)! Oh! And eggs and 1 chicken cube (not pictured).
# – Heat some oil in a big pot and fry up the onions, garlic, curry leaves, lemongrass, chillies and chilli paste till fragrant. If you’re not very good at eating spicy food, don’t get too heavy handed..you can always add more chili paste later for kick, but you can’t reduce it.
# – In the meantime, boil up some eggs. You’d need them hard boiled.
# – Add water to the pot till slightly more than half of bowl.
# – Now add the chicken cube into the chilli mixture and stir till completely dissolved.
# – Throw in fried tofu and potatoes.
# – Then add in all the vegetables – cabbage, ladies fingers & long beans. You can add other vegetables that you like too though preferably they are good for stewing/long period of cooking. Now boil till the cabbage are wilted and have absorbed all the taste.
Generally, just use your feeling with this dish. If it looked a bit dry, add water + salt. If it has too much water…boil longer till it reduces. Remember to taste along while it’s cooking, if too spicy or salty, add more water. If not spicy enough or too bland, add more chili paste!
# – After boiling for a while and about 3 minutes before serving, pour in the coconut milk and mix.
# – Wah, so serious! I should probably dress nicer from now on when I cook :P
# – Chuck in the hard boiled eggs now. Please, please peel them first.
# – Hmmmmmmmm.
# – Serve with rice.
With piping hot rice, it makes for a delicious and satisfying meal especially on a cold, rainy evening. But I can’t resist eating it on its own also :P
Happy cooking!