Potato Stew (Kerala Style Recipe)

This Kerala style Potato Stew is just ‘two’ good to be true! Yes, because you can have it in breakfast or as a main course and still would be craving for more. This gluten-free stew made with potatoes, coconut milk, shallots or pearl onions, some basic herbs and spices makes for an easy delectable stew that is comforting to another level. This, I can say from my experience itself, as having a steaming bowl of this stew with some Appams (Rice & Coconut Hoppers) or a plain, soft, Dosa, is truly delightful.

About This Potato Stew

Potato Stew is a delicious and comforting dish made with potatoes, coconut milk, shallots or pearl onions, and a blend of herbs and spices. It is one of the gems from the Kerala cuisine and can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.

The stew is spiced but not spicy with a light sweet taste of the coconut milk. The creamy texture of the coconut milk pairs perfectly with the potatoes.

It is often served with appams, but can also be enjoyed with other Indian breads and even rice. The stew is simple to prepare, making it a great option for both beginners and experienced cooks.

This recipe of Potato Stew is just that recipe which makes you go bonkers over it, because:

a) it is simple to prepare (even a beginner can make it!), with potato plus other basic everyday ingredients.

b) it still packs a punch of flavors in it, making it supremely delicious, and,

c) is both filling and comforting. Aren’t these enough a reason for you to try it right away?

If you have already tried my Veg Stew recipe, you really don’t have to think much about this Potato Stew, which is also a Kerala special. As the method of making this stew with potatoes is similar to the one made with mixed vegetables.

The flavors of the spices and curry leaves blend really well with the creaminess and sweetness of the coconut milk in this potato stew.

You can prepare this Potato Stew with fresh homemade Coconut Milk or even a store-bought one. If you have ready coconut milk, the procedure becomes even more simple.

For my family, I usually team this Potato Stew with some appams or ghee rice. A favorite version of the ghee rice is this Kerala Nei Choru. Try this too someday.

You can even pair the stew or ishtew as we call it, with Idiyappam, soft Dosa, Paratha, roti or Chapati, Cumin Rice or the humble steamed rice.

Which Potatoes For Stew?

For this recipe, the potatoes need to be cooked well but retain their shape. They should not crumble or fall apart.

Potatoes with less to medium starch are great to use in this recipe. These potatoes stay intact and whole after being cooked or may slightly break down when overcooked.

Some options you can consider are Yukon Gold, Red potatoes, Small Potatoes (Baby Potatoes), Purple Potatoes, New Potatoes and Fingerling Potatoes.

How to make Potato Stew

1. Take 1 teaspoon whole black pepper and 2 cloves in a mortar-pestle. Crush coarsely. Set aside.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a pan. Coconut oil is a must for the traditional flavors that this dish originally has.

But if you do not have it, use any neutral flavored oil like canola or sunflower or avocado.

3. Add ½ cup thinly sliced pearl onions, shallots or onions and 1 small tej patta (Indian bay leaf).

You can skip tej patta if you want, but it gives a nice subtle aroma in the stew.

4. Next, add 1 inch julienned ginger, 1 slit green chili (optional) and 10 to 12 curry leaves.

Curry leaves are needed and cannot be skipped. If you do not have curry leaves, one alternative is use to dried curry leaves or add a bit of curry leaves powder.

5. Also, add the crushed black pepper and cloves.

6. Sauté the onions until they soften and become translucent on low to medium-low heat. Do not brown them. You have to stir the onions at regular intervals till they soften.

7. Next, add 4 medium-sized (250 grams) peeled and chopped potatoes.

8. Mix the potatoes with the onions and spices.

9. Now, add 2 cups water or thin coconut milk or lite coconut milk.

10. Season with salt as required.

11. Cover the pan with its lid and simmer on medium-low to medium heat till the potatoes are cooked through and tender.

Keep checking in between and stirring, while the potatoes are cooking.

12. Simmer till the potatoes have softened. The potatoes need to be cooked well and fork tender, but not overcooked.

13. Keep the heat to low and add 1 cup thick coconut milk.

14. Mix very well and gently heat through for a minute or two. Do not heat too much or boil as the coconut milk can curdle.

15. Serve Potato Stew hot with appam, idiyappam, soft dosa or ghee rice. You can also have it steamed rice, cumin rice or with Indian flatbreads like roti and plain paratha.

Expert Tips

1. You can use either pearl onions/shallots or regular onions. The tej patta can be skipped too. You can add a 2 to 3 small-sized peeled and lightly crushed garlic cloves if you prefer when you add the ginger.
2. Throw in some green peas to add some color and more nutrients to the stew. You can also add carrots.
3. If you have a low tolerance for spices like black pepper, then use about ½ teaspoon. Also skip the green chilli.
4. Coconut oil is a must in this recipe for the authentic taste and flavour. However, if out of it, feel free to use any neutral tasting oil like sunflower, canola or avocado oil.
5. Refrigerate the leftover stew and use it up in one day.
6. After adding the coconut milk, you have to just stir it gently and heat through for 1 to 2 minutes. Not too much as then the coconut milk may curdle or separate.
7. Want to make a larger batch of Potato Stew? Double or triple the quantities.

It’s ‘stew’pendous

Put some solid ingredients in a pot or pan, pour in some liquid, season it well and simmer these together to glory. The result? A one-pot wonder called stew, with smashing flavors and layered textures to satisfy your palate as well as soul. It is as simple as that!

As obvious from the above, traditional way of making a stew involves simmering it, and not boiling. This helps the flavors to mingle with each other, the most apt way.

The main ingredients that are used can be an array of vegetables or a single veggie, like this Potato Stew. Or it can even be meats, poultry, seafood, etc.

Salts, herbs, spices make for your seasonings and the liquid can be water, stock/broth and sometimes wine too.

Also, flavorings, like the coconut milk used in this Potato Stew recipe of mine or other ground spices, can also be added. Stews are primarily thicker. Thus, may be related to soups, but not the same.

The concept of a stew is quite ancient, as old as the Jomon period (14000 to 300 BCE) in Japan.

Some of the most famous stews of the world are the Irish Stew, Russian Stroganoff, French Bourguignon, Bosnian Pot, Jewish Cholent/Hamin and Hungarian Goulash.

Back in India, we have the Kerala Ishtew, Odisha Dalma, Andhra Pulusu, etc. Even the good ol’ South Indian Sambar is basically a type of stew only. Even this Potato Stew is one of the very humble versions that is my favorite.

This Potato Stew post from the blog archives first published on December 2016 has been updated and republished on October 2023.