Potato stew (Istoo) – A dish from Kerala – Quick and easy recipes

Istoo is the Malayalam corruption of stew.  It is a part of the menu for feasts but can also served with appam and idiappam.  The stew can be made with various combinations of ingredients which are usually indicated in the name of the dish,except when it is made only with potatoes,when it is called just istoo

Ingredients 

• Potatoes – 2 medium sized,peeled and cut into 5 cm pieces
• medium size onion – 1 chopped
• Green chillies – 10 nos slit
• ginger chopped -3 c piece
• Black pepper powder – 1 tsp
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Coconut milk extract (1st extract) – 1 Cup
• Curry leaves – 1 stalk
• Oil – 2 tsp

Place potatoes, onion ,green chillies ,ginger ,pepper,salt and 3/4 cup water in a pan over moderate heat and cook till potatoes are tender enough to break lightly into smaller pieces with ladle

Stir in coconut milk and curry leaves and heat through for a minute

Heat oil and pour it in .Mix well and serve

Variations

• Vegetable (Pachakari) Istoo (Mixed vegetable stew)
• Irachi Istoo (meat Stew) :  Cook 500 gms cubed meat in a pressure cooker with 2 chopped onions, 8 slit green chillies,pepper,salt and 1/2 cup water 30 minutes,and proceed as given,using 2 cups of coconut milk
• Meen Istoo (Fish Stew) : Use 250 gms of fish with 2 petals chopped cambodge. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes and continue as given