Aromatic Kerala Style Meat Stew with Coconut Milk Rice

This is a complete meal which is Aromatic yet mild enough not to give you a spice overload. Subtle flavors just enough to enhance your taste buds.

Just gave a few twists to the normal keralite stew, to get the right colour for the stew. Went a bit overboard with the turmeric for the coconut rice though! Well if I didn't it wouldn't be different, would it?
I made it with a lot of love and thought and watched so many you tube videos to get the authentic flavors and finally ended up with this plate. Do try it and let me know how it turned out for you.

Tried various short cuts, microwaved the veggies and boiled meat separately which made the vegetables and meat  look so perfect.
Kids don't like to pick the whole spices, therefore used chinese five spice as it has that distinctive aniseed kind of aroma.

Meat Stew

Ingredients:

1/2 kg - beef cubes or mutton
2  - big onions chopped
3  - green chilles slit
1 tsp - chinese five spice masala ( my special touch)
1/2 tsp. - any mild garam masala
1/2 tsp. cumin powder
2 tbsp's - ginger - garlic paste
No turmeric is used for this stew
coconut milk - 1 cup
stock from the boiled meat
1 cinamon stick
few curry leaves

Vegetables:

peas - 1/2  cup ( I used frozen)

Potato  - 1 large cubes

carrots - 1 large cut into cubes or halved

Can also add french beans and any veggies of your choice

Method:

• Boil the meat with a tbsp. of ginger garlic paste and 1 piece of cinnamon stick. After one whistle keep for 10 minutes on slow fire or 7 minutes if the meat is tender. Keep aside.

• Wash, remove the skin and microwave the cubed potatoes and for 3.5 minutes in the microwave. Microwave the carrots too separately the same way.

• Take a pan. Add the sliced or cubed onions. Do not brown them. Add curry leaves and ginger garlic paste. Fry it until you get a nice aroma.

• Add the  dry powders - Chinese five spice, garam masala and cumin powder. Add the boiled meat along with the stock. Add the vegetables.

• Add green chillies last as otherwise the stew may get very spicy, if you want it spicy add a few green chillies while frying the onions.

• Give it all a nice boil. Add salt and taste. Check if the flavors are working for you and adjust the spices accordingly.     

• No tamarind or lemon required. It's good as it is.
• Enjoy with Plain rice or coconut rice.