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Del curry
දෙල් කරිය (del curry): Sri Lankan breadfruit in coconut milk with roasted curry powder and mustard
Breadfruit trees grow in almost every village garden in Sri Lanka, and del curry is the filling weekday and almsgiving dish that makes use of them, especially in the wet south-west. Chunks of breadfruit are simmered in coconut milk with roasted curry powder, a little mustard paste, curry leaves and pandan, until they turn soft, creamy and starchy like a good potato. Eat it with rice, pol sambol and a green mallung. The usual mistake is skipping the pre-boil; breadfruit contains a sticky latex and can stay firm, so boil the pieces first. Chef's tip: stir the mustard paste in only at the end and don't boil it hard afterwards, or it turns bitter.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb del, fresh or frozenthis is breadfruit; peeled, cored, 3 cm chunks
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 red onionsliced
- 3 cloves garlicsliced
- 2 green chilliesslit
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 2 in pandan leaf
- 1 ⅛ in cinnamon stick
- ½ tsp chilli powder
- 1 ¼ cups thin coconut milk
- ¾ cup thick coconut milk
- 1 tsp mustard seedsground to a paste with 1 tbsp vinegar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 1 ⅓ lb del, fresh or frozen in a pot with water to cover, half the ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp ground turmeric. Boil for 10 minutes until a knife slides in with a little resistance, then drain and wipe out the pot.
12 minStep 2: Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in the same pot over a medium heat. Fry 1 red onion, 3 cloves garlic, 2 green chillies, 1 sprig curry leaves, 2 in pandan leaf and 1 ⅛ in cinnamon stick for 4 minutes until the onion is soft and golden.
4 minStep 3: Stir in 2 tsp Sri Lankan roasted curry powder and ½ tsp chilli powder for 30 seconds, then add the breadfruit, 1 ¼ cups thin coconut milk and the rest of the ½ tsp salt.
2 minStep 4: Simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes until the breadfruit is soft right through and some pieces start to crumble into the gravy.
10 minStep 5: Pour in ¾ cup thick coconut milk and stir in 1 tsp mustard seeds. Heat gently for 2 minutes without boiling, until the gravy is creamy, then serve.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does del curry take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
- What can I use instead of red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
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