Basic Coconut Curry | South Indian Curry
Basic Coconut Curry is a traditional South Indian gravy made with coconut, mild spices, and aromatics like curry leaves and mustard seeds. It has a creamy texture and a naturally sweet, balanced flavor. This versatile curry base pairs well with vegetables, lentils, seafood, and chicken, forming the foundation of many coastal and South Indian dishes.
Ingredients
- Coconut oil – 3 tbsp
- Dry red chilli – 1 no
- Mustard seeds – 2 tsp
- Fenugreek seeds – 1 tsp
- Green chilli – 1 no
- Curry leaves 1 sprig
- Ginger chopped – 1 tbsp
- Garlic chopped – 1 tbsp
- Onion sliced – ½ cup
- Turmeric – ¾ tsp
- Chilli powder – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tbsp
- Salt – to taste
- Tomatoes chopped – ½ cup
- Pepper powder – ½ tsp
- Water – 1 cup
- Coconut milk (thin) – ¼ cup
- Coconut milk (thick) – ¾ cup
- Tamarind water (thick) – 2 tbsp
Instructions
- Heat a pan and add coconut oil. Add dry red chilli, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds and let them splutter. Now add chopped green chilli, curry leaves, ginger and garlic chopped. Sauce for a minute.
- Add onions and sauce them for 2 mins. Add turmeric, chilli powder and coriander powder. Stir and quickly add tomatoes. Sprinkle salt and pepper powder & cook for 8 mins approx. Add a cup of water and some thin coconut milk.
- Cook for 5 mins and then add thick coconut milk. After a quick boil add tamarind water. Bring to a quick boil again and remove. Our basic coconut curry is ready.
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