Nyonya Vegetable Curry

Name: Nyonya Vegetable Curry
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Singaporean
Ingredients: 1½ tablespoons vegetable oil (30ml); 150g Nyonya curry paste (5⅓oz/½ quantity); 300g potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks (10½oz); 2 kaffir lime leaves, torn; Lemongrass pieces reserved from curry paste, halved and bruised; 270ml coconut milk (9½oz); ⅓ cup water (80ml); 1 teaspoon salt flakes, or more to taste; 1 slipper eggplant, cut into 1cm discs; 4 small fried tofu puffs, halved or quartered; 4 grape tomatoes, halved; Steamed rice, roti or nasi lemak, for serving

While the classic Nyonya curry is made with chicken and potatoes in a creamy coconut sauce, the same curry paste is just as delicious as the base for a Nyonya vegetable curry. Potatoes are at the heart of any Nyonya curry, then I usually add eggplant, tofu puffs and some grape tomatoes, but you could use whatever vegetables you like, including green beans, cabbage, baby corn or okra. It can be tricky making curry pastes in small quantities, so the recipe I use makes enough for 8 serves. It’s best to cook it all off then use half for this Nyonya vegetable curry and freeze the rest for another quick meal, such as Fish Head Curry. Complete your feast with a glass or 2 of Intrepidus sangiovese shiraz from Chrissie Smith in Canberra. It’s an elegant light red that I like with a light chill, the soft dusty tannins and hint of dark fruit work beautifully with this aromatic curry.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1½ tablespoons vegetable oil (30ml)
150g Nyonya Curry Paste (5⅓oz/½ quantity)
300g potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks (10½oz)
2 kaffir lime leaves, torn
Lemongrass pieces reserved from curry paste, halved and bruised
270ml coconut milk (9½oz)
⅓ cup water (80ml)
1 teaspoon salt flakes, or more to taste
1 slipper eggplant, cut into 1cm discs
4 small fried tofu puffs, halved or quartered
4 grape tomatoes, halved
Steamed rice, roti or nasi lemak, for serving

Method

Put oil in a saucepan, add Nyonya Curry Paste and place over low–medium heat.
Cook, stirring often, for about 4 minutes, until oil starts to separate.
Add potato and kaffir lime leaves and stir to coat well in the paste.
Stir in coconut milk, water and salt.
Increase heat, bring to the boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add eggplant and stir to combine well and loosen any bits stuck to the base of the pan, cook for a further 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potato and eggplant are tender.
Gently stir in tofu, tomato and salt, taking care not to break up potato; taste and add more salt if needed.
Simmer for a further minute then remove from heat.
Serve Nyonya vegetable curry with steamed rice, roti or nasi lemak.