Vegetable Curry Malaysian Chinese Style Food

MALAYSIAN-STYLED VEGETABLE CURRY

Steps:

• In a 1 ½-quart saucepan, heat 1 cup of the oil to 350°F. Fry the eggplant sticks, in small batches, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until the skin turns slightly darker. Using a pair of tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Fill another saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Blanch the okra for 1 minute. Drain and set aside.
• Make the chile paste: Place the jalapeños, shallot, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, and 2 tablespoons of oil in a food processor. Blend into a fine paste. (Alternatively, you can also use a mortar and pestle to pound the ingredients.)
• Heat a 5-quart Dutch oven over medium-low heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, then sauté the chile paste, stirring often, until the chile turns a darker shade of red, 20 to 30 minutes. Add more oil if the pan starts to look dry along the way.
• Add the cumin, coriander, and turmeric, and continue to sauté for a few more seconds until fragrant.
• Add the vegetable stock, tofu puffs, pandan knots, and bring it to a boil. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
• After 10 minutes, uncover the pot. While the broth is simmering, add the cabbage, tomatoes, eggplant, lime leaves, and curry leaves. Use the back of the spatula to immerse the vegetables in the broth if needed.
• Season with palm sugar, salt, and mushrooms seasoning. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
• Once the cabbage is as crisp-tender as you like, add the okra and coconut milk, then simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Swirl in the lime juice, taste, and adjust the seasoning if needed. Remove the pandan leaves before serving.

MALAYSIAN VEGETABLE CURRY

Steps:

• Using a mortar & pestle or blender, grind chili paste, onions, garlic, ginger into a paste
• In a small bowl, combine fish curry powder and chili powder and turmeric powder with a little water to make a thick paste
• In a wok or pot, heat ghee or vegetable oil, fry the ground paste for 2-3 mins
• Add curry paste, stir-fry on low heat until quite toasted and oil starts to ooze from paste - do not burn!
• Add coconut milk, chicken stock [or vegetable stock or water], tomatoes and season with salt
• Gradually bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer uncovered until sauce thickens, about 15 mins
• Add each vegetable in order - those that take longer to cook are added first
• Simmer until just tender, or to your liking of crispness, remove from heat promptly
• Serve hot with bread, Roti or steamed rice.

SAYUR LODEH - MALAYSIAN VEGETABLE CURRY (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• In a food processor chop together onion, garlic, lemon grass (white bottom part only), ginger, macadamia/cashew nuts into a coarse paste.
• Cut potatoes, carrots, zucchini, green beans into 2" chunks and set aside.
• In a medium to large frying pan on the stove, add peanut oil and heat on high till very hot. Saute the items that were chopped in the food processor, and then after 5 minutes add ground coriander seeds, turmeric, lime leaves, bay leaves, chili flakes, and dried ground shrimp. Saute for 10 more minutes and then set aside.
• Set the crock pot on high and layer the following: potatoes and carrots, then a layer of half of the saute mix. Cauliflower, zucchini, then the rest of the saute mix. Top with green beans and cabbage. Pour in 4 cups of water and salt and cook for 5 hours with the lid on and only remove once an hour and gently mix to redistribute vegetables. During the last 30 minutes add the can of coconut milk and stir gently.
• Serve over steamed rice and garnish with a sprig of cilantro and a slice of lime.