Moru Curry, also referred to as Pulissery, is a conventional South Indian dish made with whisked curd (yogurt), coconut paste, and tempered spices, making a mildly spiced, tangy curry. This comforting dish is a staple in Kerala delicacies and is often served with steamed rice. Superbly easy and full of taste, this Kerala Moru Curry recipe is bound to turn out to be a favourite in your loved ones’s dinner rotation.


About Moru Curry
Right here I share my mother’s Moru Curry recipe, a conventional dish from the South Indian delicacies. This deliciously spiced and seasoned yogurt curry is a longtime household favourite.
A Kerala model curry, Moru is a yogurt based mostly curry that may be made both with or with out coconut. The phrase “Moru” refers to “buttermilk” in Malayalam. My mother’s recipe really requires curd or yogurt as an alternative of buttermilk.
Bitter curd is whisked in water to get a buttermilk like consistency. Moru curry can be made with conventional buttermilk acquired from churning butter. Each methods the curry tastes identical to the genuine dish I grew up with.
Also referred to as Nadan Moru Curry, Moru Charu, Kachiya Moru or Pulissery, Moru Curry is part of the Onam Sadya.
Spiced with inexperienced chilies for warmth, cumin for perfumed heat and floor coconut, this scrumptious dish is ideal on a scorching summer time’s day. It doesn’t matter what you name it, this meal is bound to please.
Why This Recipe Works
My mother’s recipe makes use of floor coconut, inexperienced chilies and cumin paste, all of which carry an excessive amount of taste to the curry. It may be made with out including the coconut paste relying in your taste preferences, too.
Whereas lots of you might be conversant in my cooking, I discovered from the easiest – my mother. This recipe is her model of Moru Curry, and it’s scrumptious.
In case you are desirous to make this Keralan specialty at dwelling, I extremely recommend you do this pleasant and easy pulissery recipe.
Whereas generally this dish is solely served over rice, I generally select so as to add in an entire host of greens to show it right into a full-on meal.
In the event you love veggies as a lot as I do, I recommend making an attempt my recipe with my favorites for this curry: taro root, ash gourd, yam and malabar cucumber (yellow cucumber or vellarikka).
In the event you decide to serve it as a plain pulissery with out veggies, don’t fear. It’s jam-packed with taste and can be sure you tantalize your tastebuds all the identical. Comfortable consuming!
How ought to I put together the greens for this curry
My private favourite greens so as to add to Moru Curry or pulissery are taro root (a.okay.a. arbi), ash gourd, yam and malabar cucumber. Comply with the directions under to make these greens probably the most flavorful:
- Taro root (arbi, chembu): Peel and steam or cook dinner taro roots in pan. Then evenly fry or sauté in coconut oil. Add to the buttermilk combination.
- Ash gourd (kumbalanga): Peel, chop, boil or steam. Drain, add to the curd and coconut paste combination.
- Yam: Peel, chop, steam or boil. Pressure the water. Add steamed yam to the buttermilk combination.
- Malabar cucumber (vellarikka): Peel, take away the seeds, chop and cook dinner in water till tender. Drain the water and add to the curd combination.
- Greens: Spinach, amaranth and drumstick leaves are some wholesome choices. You possibly can both sauté the chopped leaves in coconut oil, till they wilt and add to the yogurt combination. Or you’ll be able to blanch, mash after which use within the pulissery recipe.
Step-by-Step Information
Tips on how to Make Moru Curry
To make my mother’s Moru Curry recipe, there are 5 steps you’ll want to finish. First, make your coconut paste.
1. Make Coconut Paste
1. Add ½ cup grated contemporary coconut, 1 teaspoon chopped inexperienced chilies (equal to 2 to three chilies) and 1 teaspoon cumin seeds in a spice grinder or blender.


2. Add 4 to five tablespoons water and grind to clean paste. Put aside.


2. Make Buttermilk Combination
Now you might be prepared to maneuver on to step 2, making the buttermilk combination.
1. In a saucepan or pot, add 1 cup bitter curd (yogurt).
Tip: In case your curd (or yogurt) isn’t bitter tasting, preserve it at room temperature for two to 4 hours till the style turns into bitter. The curd needs to be bitter and not rancid or spoiled. It’s best to be capable of odor the distinction, with good curd smelling a bit bitter and astringent.


2. Add 1 cup water and ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder. In the event you added extra water to your coconut paste, then add much less water at this step.


3. Whisk to a clean buttermilk consistency.


4. Add the bottom coconut paste from step 1.


5. Add salt as wanted.


6. Combine buttermilk with paste and salt till properly mixed.


3. Simmer Curry
1. Place the saucepan crammed with the buttermilk-coconut combination on the stovetop over low warmth.


2. Whisk sometimes, each 2 to three minutes.


3. Let the combination turn out to be scorching, however don’t permit it to come back to a boil. While you see steam coming from the combination, take away it from the warmth.
Cowl and put aside. Boiling can curdle this delicate yogurt curry.
Moreover understand that the curry thickens on cooling. So you would preserve the consistency barely runny should you plan to reheat the curry for lunch or dinner.


4. Mood Spices
You are actually prepared to maneuver on to step 3, tempering the spices.
Tempering is an important step in Indian cooking. In contrast to the time period as it’s identified in America (which particularly refers to chocolate), tempering is all about extracting most taste from spices.
To correctly mood your spices for this Moru Curry recipe, I like to recommend utilizing coconut oil. This may provide probably the most conventional and genuine taste to the dish.
1. Warmth 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a small pan over medium warmth. Add ½ teaspoon mustard seeds.


2. Let mustard seeds crackle. That is the magical a part of tempering aka tadka! All the spices within the oil are awakening if you hear that crackly sound.


3. Add 10 to 12 curry leaves, 7 to eight fenugreek seeds (methi seeds) and a couple of dry purple chilies (damaged in half with out stems and seeds eliminated).


4. Add ¼ cup sliced shallots or pearl onions and ½ teaspoon finely chopped ginger.


5. Combine and start to sauté on a low warmth.


6. Sauté till onions flip mild golden or golden.


7. Now it’s time to transfer on to step 4, which is able to assemble these element items.
5. Assemble & Make Moru Curry
1. Pour total tempering combination within the cooked buttermilk, together with the oil.


2. Cowl and let the flavors infuse for a couple of minutes.


3. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves (non-obligatory) and serve moru curry scorching or heat with steamed rice.


Skilled Suggestions
- Curd: For this recipe, you’ll require bitter curd (yogurt) however not spoiled or rancid. If the curd isn’t bitter, then simply preserve it at room temperature for two to 4 hours or till it turns bitter.
- Greens: You could have a alternative so as to add a wide range of cooked greens on this curry. Select from as gourd, taro root, yam, Malabar cucumber, summer time squash, zucchini, potato, pumpkin, winter squash, belle peppers or leafy greens like drumstick or moringa leaves, spinach, amaranth and kale.
- Coconut: You possibly can even use desiccated coconut rather than contemporary grated coconut. This curry can be made with out including coconut in any respect.
- Substitutes: As an alternative of bitter curd, you should use bitter buttermilk; as an alternative of coconut oil, you should use every other impartial flavored oil or ghee (clarified butter).
- Garnish: You should utilize chopped coriander leaves to garnish the Moru Curry. In the event you don’t want to, you’ll be able to even skip this step.
- Make forward: Since this dish is principally ready from curd or yogurt, it’s best should you devour it contemporary and never make it forward of time or retailer it additional.
FAQs
As Moru Curry is created from curd, I recommend to have it contemporary. I might positively not advocate to make it forward of time. In Indian meals tradition and practices, we all the time give emphasis on having freshly cooked meals. Meals that’s served scorching or heat after it’s cooked is sweet for well being.
Oftentimes, Moru Curry or pulissery is served over steamed rice and may be garnished with contemporary coriander (cilantro) leaves. I additionally love including cooked chopped greens to mine. Both means, you’re positive to adore it.
You possibly can simply substitute your personal favourite greens on this recipe. Zucchini or summer time squash would make a pleasant substitute for the ash gourd and malabar cucumber, and potato may take the place of the taro. Different greens that might work properly are pumpkins or winter squash, bell peppers or leafy greens like kale or spinach or drumstick leaves.
Actually. If you don’t benefit from the taste of coconut or are allergic, merely omit making the coconut paste. Gently warmth via the buttermilk after which add the fried tempering substances. Embrace half a teaspoon every of chopped inexperienced chilies and cumin seeds within the tempering. You possibly can substitute ghee or a impartial oil for the coconut oil through the tempering step.
Whereas this recipe makes use of curd (yogurt) whisked with water to approximate buttermilk, you should use 2 cups of actual buttermilk that’s obtained from making butter.
Extra Kerala Recipes To Strive!
Please be sure you price the recipe within the recipe card or depart a remark under you probably have made it. For extra vegetarian inspirations, Signal Up for my emails or observe me on Instagram, Youtube, Fb, Pinterest or Twitter.


Moru Curry Recipe (Pulissery)
Moru Curry, also referred to as Pulissery, is a conventional Kerala dish made with whisked curd (yogurt), a clean coconut paste, and a flavorful tempering of spices & herbs. This mildly spiced and tangy yogurt-based curry is a comforting staple in Kerala delicacies, sometimes loved with steamed rice. It’s a cherished favourite in our dwelling — a conventional recipe handed down from my mom. Do do this scrumptious and genuine Pulissery made with love from her kitchen.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook dinner Time 15 minutes
Complete Time 25 minutes
Forestall your display screen from going darkish whereas making the recipe
Making coconut paste
Take grated contemporary coconut, chopped inexperienced chillies and cumin seeds in a grinder or blender.
Add water and grind to clean paste. Put aside.
Making curd combination
In a saucepan or pot, add the bitter curd (yogurt), water and turmeric powder.
Whisk to a clean consistency.
Add salt (as wanted) and floor coconut paste.
Combine till properly mixed.
Simmering
Preserve the saucepan or pot with the curd combination on stovetop on a low warmth.
Carry on stirring at intervals.
Let combination turn out to be scorching. While you steam coming from the combination, swap off the warmth. Do stir at intervals. Don’t boil. Cowl and put aside.
Tempering
Warmth coconut oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and allow them to crackle.
Add curry leaves, fenugreek seeds and dry purple chillies (damaged and seeds eliminated).
Add sliced pearl onions and finely chopped ginger.
Combine and start to sauté on a low warmth.
Sauté till onions flip mild golden or golden.
Making moru curry
Pour total tempering combination with the oil within the cooked buttermilk.
Cowl and let the flavors infuse for a couple of minutes.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves (non-obligatory) and serve scorching or heat with steamed rice.
- Bitter curd: Add buttermilk, ideally bitter.
- Veggies: Be at liberty to make moru curry with cooked greens. I like yam, taro root, ash gourd and malabar cucumber. You possibly can add greens like spinach, amaranth or drumstick leaves.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil provides conventional Kerala taste. The genuine recipe requires coconut oil, however you’ll be able to attempt making moru curry with any impartial tasting oil or use ghee (clarified butter).
- Coconut: Attempt to use contemporary coconut and grind to a wonderful paste. However should you do not need it, desiccated coconut (unsweetened) can be utilized. Be sure to soak the desiccated coconut flakes in heat water for 20 minutes earlier than making the paste.
- Skipping Coconut: In the event you skip including coconut, then gently warmth via the buttermilk and add the fried tempering substances. Embrace half a teaspoon every of cumin seeds and chopped inexperienced chillies within the tempering.
- Use bitter curd or yogurt for genuine tang.
- Don’t boil the curry after including curd. All the time simmer on low warmth after including the curd
- Whisk curd till clean and lump-free.
- Don’t skip on curry leaves.
- Alter inexperienced chilies to your spice desire.
- Don’t skip fenugreek seeds within the tempering – they add a novel depth of taste.
- You possibly can add ash gourd, cucumber, or ripe mango for a seasonal variation.
Vitamin Info
Moru Curry Recipe (Pulissery)
Quantity Per Serving
Energy 192 Energy from Fats 144
% Day by day Worth*
Fats 16g25%
Saturated Fats 13g81%
Ldl cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 114mg5%
Potassium 197mg6%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 221IU4%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 29mg145%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin B12 1µg17%
Vitamin C 54mg65%
Vitamin D 1µg7%
Vitamin E 1mg7%
Vitamin Okay 1µg1%
Calcium 98mg10%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 301µg75%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 25mg6%
Phosphorus 93mg9%
Zinc 1mg7%
* P.c Day by day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie food regimen.
Moru Curry recipe from the archives was first printed on December 2020.