Sayur Lodeh (Vegetable Curry)

Spices and coconut milk are a part of the Indonesian and Malaysian daily diet. A meal without curry or hot sauce is also seen to be incomplete. Sayur lodeh (vegetable curry) is one of my all-time favourite curries. It is usually served with steamed rice with a side of sambal belachan (hot sauce with shrimp paste).

Curry paste is usually made of shallots, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, fresh turmeric, red hot chilies, and other aromatic spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, coriander seeds etc. These ingredients are then pounded in a stone mortar until they turn into a paste. I tend to make curry paste (from scratch) in the summer when I get red hot chillies from the farmer's market.

In winters or whenever I'm running out of curry paste, I use store-bought Malaysian curry paste (A1 Brand) to save time and for convenience. The result is still as good as the curry that I have had back home. To those of you who think curries are troublesome to make in your kitchen, this recipe will give you room to breathe and a reason smile!

Skill Level: Easy

Serves: 6 - 8

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 chayotes, cubed 
• 1/2 lb long beans, cut into 2" long
• 1 carrot, cubed
• 1/4 medium size cabbage, cut into bit size
• 1 can baby corn, cut into 1" long 
• 4 thinly sliced shallots
• 3 tbsp cooking oil
• 4 tbsp A1 or Tean's Brand curry paste 
• 1 cup coconut milk 
• 1/4 cup dried shrimps (optional, omit for vegetarian option)
• 2 cups water
• 1 lemongrass
• 3 kaffir lime leaves
• Salt, to taste 

METHOD:

1. In a pot or dutch oven, heat up cooking oil and sauté shallots until golden brown
2. Add in dried shrimps and cook for 2 minutes
3. Stir in curry paste and lemongrass. Cook for another 2 minutes
4. Add long beans, carrots and chayotes, stir for  3 to 4 minutes
5. Add in coconut milk and water, cook to a boil or until vegetables are cooked 
6. Lastly, add in baby corn and cabbage, cook for another 10 minutes
7. Taste before you add in salt to suit your taste 

Note: A1 and Tean's Brand Curry Paste can be bought in most Asian grocery stores.