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Cucumber Pulissery

Cucumber Pulissery

Diced cucumbers cooked in spiced coconut and blended silken tofu seasoned with fenugreek seeds. A vegan version of a classic sadhya dish.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 5 people
Course: Main Course, Sadhya, Side Dish
Cuisine: Indian, Kerala

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cucumber cubed
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder; cayenne
  • salt to taste
Coconut Mixture
  • 1/2 cup  grated coconut  fresh or frozen
  • 1 -2 green chili   adjust according to your heat level
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 inch ginger
  • 3 shallots   you can substitute red or yellow onion
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
Tofu Curd
  • 1 box (12.3 oz) silken tofu   regular tofu will also work
  • 1/2 cup soy milk
  • 1-2 lemon or lime
  • salt to taste
Tempering
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 2 dried whole red chilis
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • a pinch fenugreek powder
  • 2-4 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1/2 inch ginger crushed
  • 6-8 shallots  sliced; you can substitute red or yellow onion
  • 2 tbsp unrefined coconut oil

Method
 

  1. Cook cubed cucumber, 1/4 cup of water, turmeric, red chili powder and salt
    Cucumber Pulissery
  2. Gather all the ingredients for the coconut mixture and blend to a smooth paste.
    Coconut paste
  3. Blend the tofu, soy milk, juice from 1 or 2 lemons or limes, and salt.
    Silken tofu
  4. Add coconut mixture and tofu curd to a pot and cook for a few mins stirring occasionally. Add more water if the curry is too thick for you.
    Pulissery
  5. In another pan heat coconut oil and add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, dried red chilis, and curry leaves. When you put the curry leaves in be prepared for a lot of spluttering. You can put a lid on right afterward for a few seconds to prevent all the mustard seeds from popping out and to protect yourself from splattering oil.
    Tempering
  6. Now add a pinch of fenugreek seed powder and give it a good stir for a couple of seconds and add crushed garlic and ginger. Stir fry for a minute and take in that beautiful aroma!
    Tempering
  7. Now throw in the sliced shallots and a couple of pinches of salt.
    Tempering
  8. Saute the mixture until the onions are translucent.
    Tempering
  9. Add the onion mixture to the curry and stir it in. That's it!
    Pulissery
  10. Enjoy with rice!
    Cucumber Pulissery