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The art of stewing is an ancient one and there are plenty of stews from around the world that prove even today just how effective the slow-cooking method is. One of these famous stews is the Kerala-style Mutton Stew, which is endearingly called Mutton Ishtu. But ask anybody from Kerala if just a standalone slow-cooked stew is enough and they will immediately tell you that it is not. What they will tell you is that they need perfectly cooked Appams to mop up the rich, smooth gravy from the Mutton Stew.
And this is the precise reason why the names of Kerala Mutton Stew and Appam are usually taken in the same breath—one is incomplete without the other. In fact, so food coma-inducing is this combination from Kerala that it can even be called a food match made in heaven. One is a meaty, veggie-packed stew that is loaded with coconut milk flavours. The other is a light, airy, fermented pancake made of rice flour. Put together, Mutton Stew and Appam make for the best of meals.
Wondering how to whip up these recipes? Here are the recipes for Kerala-style Mutton Stew and Appam or Palappam you need.
Video credit: YouTube/Sanjeev Kapoor Khazana
Kerala Mutton Stew Recipe
Ingredients:
1kg mutton
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp salt
1.5 cups water
For the gravy:-
1.5 tbsp coconut oil
3 cloves
3 cardamom pods
1 cinnamon stick
2 green chillies
2 sprigs curry leaves
1 large onion, slied
1 tbsp ginger, julienned
1 carrot, diced
1 potato, diced
4 green beans, chopped
1 tsp salt
1.5 tsp black pepper powder
2 cups coconut milk
Method:
1. Wash, clean and pat dry the mutton then transfer into a large bowl.
2. Add the turmeric powder, ginger paste, salt, mix well and marinate for at least half an hour.
3. Place the marinated mutton and water in a pressure cooker and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles.
4. To make the Mutton Stew gravy, heat coconut oil in a large wok.
5. Add the cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, green chillies and curry leaves.
6. Once these ingredients stop spluttering after a minute, add the onions.
7. Saute the onions for 3-4 minutes, then add the carrots, potatoes, beans and stir fry for a minute.
8. Now add the cooked mutton, salt, pepper and cook for 10 minutes while covered.
9. Add the coconut milk and continue cooking for another 10 minutes or until the vegetables and meat are all tender.
10. Serve the Mutton Stew hot with fresh Appams.
Image credit: Pinterest/erivumpuliyumm
Appam Recipe
Ingredients:
1.5 cups regular rice, soaked
¼ cup thick poha
½ cup coconut, grated
½ tsp instant yeast
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
2-3 tbsp water, for blending
Oil, as needed
Method:
1. Drain all the soaked rice and transfer into a mixer grinder jar.
2. Add the grated coconut, poha, salt and sugar.
3. Add a bit of water and blend everything into a fine, smooth paste.
4. Add some more water to thin the batter a bit if needed.
5. Transfer the batter into a large bowl.
6. Sprinkle the instant yeast and mix quickly, thoroughly and evenly.
7. Cover the bowl and let the batter rest and ferment for 2 hours.
8. Heat an appam pan, add a few drops of oil and add a ladleful of the appam batter.
9. Turn and tilt the appam pan to get a round appam.
10. Keep the flame at low to medium and cover the pan.
11. Once the appam is cooked, use a spatula to remove the appam carefully.
12. Follow this process to make all the appams.
13. Serve the appams hot with Mutton Stew.
