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Greetings!
This is Kootu! And I'm Kishore!
In the previous webisode, Mala from Singapore made Kothu Parotta.
Today, Ramya is gonna cook.
What are you gonna make?
Stew
What is that?
It is a potato-onion-coconut-milk kootu.
Waddup "Kootu" reference!?!
Ingredients needed to make potato stew...
We'll use three different extracts from coconut.
Coconut oil
Curry leaves
OMG! You started cooking already?
Why din't you tell me? I've to roll the camera!
You're not letting me do my job!
Okay, what did you add?
Firstly, boil the diced potatoes and onions in enough water.
Now, I'm gonna add green chillies.
Halve the green chillies lengthwise.
Oh, slice them lengthwise!
Why can't we just chop the chillies?
No, you shouldn't! This dish should'nt be too spicy.
The spice level should be just right!
You've got to be kidding!
You realized it only now?
Okay. Mala, you're asking questions about the ingredients.
But, do you know what's a stew in the first place?
I don't know! I've no idea what a stew is!
Oh, that's why you were asking the question, weren't you?
Duh! Why on earth would I ask if I knew already?!
Okay, then ask her what a stew is!
What is a stew, Ramya?
Where did this dish originate from?
How did you learn this dish?
Stew is a dish made in Kerala (South India).
It's a traditional dish that I learnt from my mother-in-law.
Now, I've three separate extracts from fresh coconuts.
I'll add the third coconut extract (less concentrated) first!
Can we add the store-bought coconut milk instead?
Or is it better to make it ourselves?
No, it will taste good only when you add home-made coconut milk.
The store-bought one has added preservatives.
And it doesn't taste good in this dish!
Furthermore, you cant separate it into three different extracts!
Yes, it can't be separated!
Why have you separated three different extracts? They're all coconut milk right?
Nope! The first extract from the coconut will be very thick.
That is the thick coconut milk!
The second extract has a medium concentration.
The third one, which we just added, is a bit watery.
If you add the thick coconut milk first, it'll lose it's fresh taste.
So, if the thick coconut extract is added at the end...
it'll stay fresh and the taste won't change!
It'll taste delicious too!
You told this to her already, din't you?
No. Usually, coconut milk is added only towards the end.
Oh, you've bonded too much, right?!
So I thought she told this to you already!
Now, add salt to suit your taste.
This will also help the vegetables cook faster!
Usually, salt is not added to coconut milk, right?
No. But, you can add for this dish!
Even in payasam (rice pudding), when we add coconut milk...
we avoid adding salt, right?!
In coconut milk payasam, we add jaggery and so we avoid salt.
That's a totally different category.
Since jaggery already contains salt, we don't add separately.
Not just that! When you add rice to jaggery, it won't get cooked well.
Likewise, when you add jaggery, the salt doesn't mix well.
It's boiling! It's boiling!
It's getting boiled in this pot!
Okay. You added the third extract already.
Two more to go! Pour it!
We should let this boil before adding the next.
We are gonna add the second extract now.
BTW, is coconut milk easily obtainable in your hometown nowadays?
A lot! Coconuts are easily available.
One can find coconut trees near most households.
Oh, so do you miss those things?
Definitely!
In India, houses are surrounded by trees like coconut trees, neem trees, etc.
Here, we get to grow plants only in pots.
Okay. How long should this boil?
And when should we pour the next extract?
It's been 2 minutes since I poured the second extract.
Now, I'm gonna add the thick coconut milk.
The first extract
I know only coconut flower and coconut milk.
But, she's using first, second and third coconut extracts.
Yeah!
For the dish to taste good you'll have to extract this way.
Add minimal water while extracting the coconut milk.
Coconut milk is good for health.
It'll heal the lesions in our stomach and intestines.
You didn't tell us that you're Dr. Ramya!
Ok. How long will this take to boil, Ramya?
Another 2-3 minutes
Are you getting the aroma?
Gotta wait 2 more minutes?
Yes!
Are you getting the aroma of coconut milk?
Yeah!
I'm getting three distinct aromas as you added three different extracts.
Why are you bluffing?
You'll get only the aroma of coconut milk.
Oops, you found out! I though I'll say it like a doctor.
Once it comes to a boil, what are you gonna add?
We'll have to prepare the tempering in coconut oil.
We must temper mustard seeds and curry leaves.
BTW, you must have cooked a lot when you were in India.
So what's the one dish that you made in India, ...
which you don't get here?
You know what? I've never cooked when I was in India.
My husband taught me how to cook.
Oh, he taught you, is it?
So you don't know answer to my question.
Well, now I do! But, back then, I din't know!
Ok, tell me what's that one thing which you get in India, ...
but, not here?
Ice-apple
Ice-apple?
So you don't know what ice-apple is!
You know palm tree, right?
It's palmyra fruit!
There's a popular saying in Tamil too!
Share it with us!
Tell!
Even if one sits under a palm tree and drinks milk, ...
one would never confess about drinking milk.
Oh, okay!
Do you understand?
I understand, but a lotta secrets are coming out!
One has become a doctor!
The other one has become an Avvaiyar (Tamil poet).
And you became?
I'm still holding the camera.
I choose to remain the cameraman!
Alright! It has come to a boil!
It's been 2-3 minutes now, I guess!
Let's remove it from the stove.
Leave it here!
Now, we have to do the tempering using coconut oil.
Heat 4-5 tbsps of coconut oil in a pan.
Okay. You've been asking us too many questions. It's our turn now!
You've done so many shows now, right?
So what do you think is the difference between India and Singapore?
I think there's no difference!
We all are the same!
Ok, you tell me! What's the difference?
They were born in Singapore, whereas we were born in India!
I knew this was coming!
You do the tempering! Temper the mustard seeds!
Instead of adding the curry leaves directly...
tear it into small pieces and add.
You're gonna tear the leaves? Won't they feel hurt?
Nah! They won't! You're gonna tear the leaves? Won't they feel hurt?
Nah! They won't!
Ok, why do you think I'm tearing the leaves?
She knows that I don't know...
yet she keeps asking me delibrately.
Ok, I'll guess!
When you tear the leaves and add, it gives more flavor and taste.
Well, not just that!
When we tear the leaves into small pieces, ...
children will not patiently pick these and throw away.
They'll eat it along with the dish.
Curry leaves have a lotta iron and are good for health.
So are you gonna add the mustard tempering to the stew?
Yeah, add the mustard tempering to the stew.
I'll clear the place for you.
Let's now add chopped coriander leaves.
Potato stew is ready!
Ready?
Yeah, it's ready!
Oh, that's it?
That's it!
Then it's time to taste.
Ok, it's time to call the family members now.
Let's taste and see once they arrive.
Sure!
Firstly, boil the diced potatoes and onions in enough water.
Add sliced green chillies.
Then, add the third coconut extract first!
When it comes to a boil, add salt and the second coconut extract.
There should be a gap of 2 minutes between the addition of each extract.
Then, add the first coconut milk extract.
Once it comes to a boil, remove from the stove.
Temper mustard seeds and curry leaves in hot cocnut oil.
Add the tempering to the stew and mix well.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Delicious potato stew is ready!
You know they say, "Not all who gather a group end up winning!"
But, I did not gather this group of people.
They've formed a group themselves due to their affection for me.
They formed a group, for this Kootu...
For our Kootu!
Ramya is now going to serve her dish to our Singaporean friend.
I heard that you were the one who taught her how to cook.
See what cooking has done to you, uncle!
Yeah, see what I've become!
That's what you were trying to say, right?
Yes, uncle!
You've nailed it, Ramya! It's fantabulous!
This combination is unbearable!
No matter where they're standing, they keep attacking me!
Ok, tell us what you like about the dish.
The smell of coconut milk is so good!
The amount of spiciness from the chillies is just right!
She gave you the script in advance, right?
No, she didn't!
You are the one who talks according to the script.
Oh, you found out?!
Ok, eat!
You wanna taste?
It's ok. Feed your son!
Super!
Nice, is it?
You paid the kid too to bluff, is it?
What uncle? She paying everyone to lie!
How will I give up the dish I taught her?!
If you had paid me, I would've drunk the entire pot of stew.
Ok. In this Kootu, we formed a group and finally made stew.
But, I,... I mean, we all are yet to eat!
So I'll meet you in the next webisode.