This chena/yam curry is very simple and tasty. Many dishes are made with yam in Kerala. Yam is tasty and healthy too. Yam helps in reducing the LDL cholesterol in the body and helps in maintaining a good cardiovascular health. This curry has thick gravy goes well with rice and chapati.
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How to make Chena Curry
What you’ll need
Elephant Yam – 250 gm
Grated coconut – 1/2 cup
Grated coconut – 2 tbsp
Shallots (finely chopped) – 1 1/2 tbsp
Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
Dry Red Chilli – 3
Coconut Oil – 3 tbsp
Tamarind – 1 tsp of tamarind soaked in 1/4 cup of water
Turmeric Powder – 1 /3 tsp
Kashmiri Chilli Powder – 1 tsp
Hot Chilli Powder – a pinch
Cumin Seeds – 1/4 tsp
Salt – 1 tsp
Curry leaves –
Water – 1 1/2 cup
Tips
- Cooking of the yam could vary, so please make sure it is cooked enough before adding the coconut mixture.
How to cook it
- Add cleaned and chopped yam and 1 1/2 cup of water into a clay pot. Add 1/2 tsp of salt, 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder and 3/4 tsp of kashmiri chilli powder and let it boil.
- Once it starts boiling, close and cook for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, prepare the coconut mixture. For that, add 1/2 cup of coconut,1/4 tsp of cumin seeds and 1 tsp of chopped shallots into a blender and blend them into a fine paste. To make a smooth consistency, add 3-4 tbsp of water while blending.
- After 10 mins, check if the yam is cooked.
- Cook the yam for 10-12 more minutes.
- After 10 minutes check again if the yam is cooked.
- Once yam is cooked, add the coconut mixture and mix it well.
- Check the salt. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and mix.
- Yam curry is almost ready, keep it aside and let us prepare the tempering.
- Add 3 tbsp of coconut oil into a pan.
- Once the oil is hot, add 1 tsp of mustard seeds.
- When the mustard seeds splutter, add dry red chillies and mix.
- Add curry leaves, 1 tbsp of chopped shallots and mix.
- Add 2 tbsp of grated coconut saute it.
- Once the shallots and grated coconut are sauteed, add a pinch of turmeric, a pinch of hot chilli powder and 1/4 tsp of kashmiri chilli powder mix and take it off from the stove.
- Add this tempering to the yam curry and mix. Close and keep it aside.
- Yam Curry is ready to serve.
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