Erissery

A traditional Kerala dish made with pumpkin, red oriental beans, and coconut, Erissery is mildly spiced and tempered with curry leaves and red chillies. It is often served with steamed rice during festive occasions like Onam.

Ingredients

• 2 cups ripe pumpkin, sliced into pieces
• ½ cup red oriental beans (soaked overnight)
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 tsp oil
• 2 dried red chillies
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 2 sprigs curry leaves
• Water as required
• Salt to taste

To be ground into a paste:

• 1 cup grated coconut
• 1 small onion
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 2–3 green chillies
• 2 garlic pods

Method

1. Soak the beans overnight.
2. Cook pumpkin and beans together in enough water with salt until soft.
3. Add the ground coconut paste to the cooked mixture, boil for a few minutes, and keep aside.
4. Heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard seeds, add curry leaves and dried red chillies.
5. Add the thick coconut milk to the tempering and mix.
6. Pour this mixture over the pumpkin curry and stir well.
7. Serve hot with steamed rice.