Mushroom Gassi

Gassi is a rich, creamy sauce spiced with cumin, coriander and simmered with coconut milk. It’s a Mangalorean style curry usually made from seafood or chicken. But, this is a vegetarian version of the dish.

Ingredients	Quantity
Mushrooms	1 bowl or 250gms
Onion	2 chopped
Tomato	2 chopped or puree 1 cup
Ginger Garlic paste	1 ½ tsp
Coriander seeds	1 tbsp.
Cumin seeds	½ tbsp.
Fenugreek seeds	½ tsp
Red chilies	10-15 or to taste
Turmeric powder	½ tsp
Grated coconut	2 tbsp.
Coconut Milk	1 cup
Garam Masala	1 tsp
Oil	2-3 tbsp.
Coriander leaves	to garnish
Curry leaves	handful
Salt	to taste

Method

Wash thoroughly and pat dry mushrooms. Chop in half or quarters.

Take a pan and add oil. When hot add mushrooms and fry on high heat. After a while add salt and switch off. Keep aside. Mushrooms should be crunchy, just roast from outside.

In the same pan add oil and once heated add coriander seeds and roast it. Then add cumin seeds and fenugreek roast it. Add red chillies and fry till it becomes crisp. Remove and Keep it aside.

In the same pan add onion, tomato and grated coconut. Add garam masala. Saute it till onion is soft. Let it cool down for a while.

Add all of the above mixture in a blender (mixer) and make a paste adding little water.

Take deep pan, add 1 tbsp oil. Add curry leaves. When they change colour slightly, add ginger garlic paste, fry for a minute. Then add the paste we prepared (gravy). Add turmeric powder, salt and fry till the raw smell goes and oil separates.

Now add mushrooms back and cook for 2-3 minutes. Later add coconut milk. Garnish it with
coriander leaves. Serve with dosa, rice or roti.

Points to remember

·        For best result and authentic flavor use coconut oil for cooking and drizzle some coconut oil just before serving.

·        If you do not prefer strong smell of coconut oil you could use vegetable oil for cooking and omit the drizzle of coconut oil.

·        While roasting mushrooms they might let out some water, you could strain it and keep aside and add back to gravy for more flavor.

·        The best combination will be kori roti, boiled rice or neer dosa along with this curry.