Mezhukka

This is a Keralan way of cooking vegetables. The version we witnessed used long beans and coconut pieces. We were told that you can use many different kinds of veg, and substitute potato for the pieces of coconut. The previous day we ate a version cooked with gherkins.

Ingredients

• Coconut oil
• Long beans
• Coconut pieces
• Curry leaves (around 20)
• Turmeric (1/2 teaspoon)
• Salt (quite a bit, a heaped teaspoon)
• Chopped onion
• Green chillies

Method

1. Heat the coconut oil
2. Add curry leaves, turmeric powder and salt. Stir vigorously.
3. Add the onion, chilli and coconut pieces (but not the potato if you're using it). Stir everything gently over a medium heat so that all the ingredients are coated with oil.
4. Add the long beans (and/or potato) and stir.
5. Cover and cook for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring regularly until all the ingredients are soft.
6. Add a heaped teaspoon of pepper powder. You can also add some ghee here if you're feeling a bit dirty.
7. Cook for 1 minute more.
8. Add salt to taste.