This noolkol curry also known as kohlrabi curry is a simple South Indian dish made with noolkol, coconut, cumin, chillies and a flavourful tempering. Enjoy this noolkol curry with steaming rice, potato poriyal and appalam for a satisfying meal.
Noolkol Curry Recipe
I always see noolkol in my supermarket but never pick them. I have never tasted them in my entire life. Last week we went to our super market, I decided to grab couple of those. I came home and made a simple curry using that and it was delicious.
This one is different from the normal curry which we make, it has yogurt in them which gives a nice tangy bite to it. It has a nice aroma of the black pepper and makes it taste delicious.
About Noolkol Curry
Noolkol, also called kohlrabi, is a crunchy vegetable from the cabbage family. It is low in calories and packed with fiber making it a perfect choice for preparing everyday curries, poriyal stir fries, sambar and chutney.
Kohlrabi is a versatile vegetable from the cabbage family. The name "Kohlrabi" comes from German, Kohl means cabbage and rabi means Turnip.
It is often called German Turnip or German cabbage because it looks similar to turnip. This is a nutritious vegetable that tastes so juicy, mild in flavour and easy to cook, making it perfect for everyday meals.
Similar Recipes
Today's recipe is my first noolkol based curry on the blog. It is a simple, comforting dish made in a mor kuzhambu style.
The curry uses curd, cumin, coconut and chillies that create a creamy, flavourful curry that is beautifully absorbed by the soft, tender noolkol pieces.
This noolkol curry is no-onion, no-tomato curry that is quick to prepare and is made in less than 30 minutes. It tastes great with steamed rice, and also goes well with dosai or chapati. Overall, it is a perfect homestyle curry for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
This is an easy recipe to make and tastes similar to traditional mor kuzhambu. I have also shared another noolkol recipe on the blog which is noolkol potato poriyal. It's a quick side dish that goes well with rice, sambar and rasam.
Ingredients
- Noolkol / Kohlrabi : Noolkol or kohlrabi is the main vegetable used in this curry. When cooked, it becomes soft yet slightly crunchy in texture. It also absorbs the spices well and makes a flavourful curry.
- Spices : Spices like turmeric powder and black pepper are added to give bright color and gentle heat to the curry.
- Curd / Yogurt : Full fat yogurt works best for this curry. It gives a rich creamy texture and a mild tangy taste that balances with spices.
- Water & Salt : Water and salt are added to cook the kohlrabi and form the base of the curry. They help to soften the vegetables and make a well balanced dish.
- Grinding : A fresh and flavourful masala paste is prepared by grinding grated coconut, cumin seed, green chilli, turmeric powder and rice flour. This paste adds mild sweetness, creamy texture and also slightly thickens the curry.
- For Tempering : For the final tempering, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves and dried red chilli are sizzled in hot coconut oil. This seasoning adds traditional South Indian aroma and enhances the overall flavour of the curry.
Step by Step Pictures
Pre preparation
1)Take noolkol and wash them well.
2)Peel noolkol using a peeler.
3)Chop it into small pieces.
4)Whisk yogurt till smooth.
Grinding Coconut
5)Take coconut, cumin seeds, green chillies in a blender.
6)add in turmeric powder.
7)Add in rice flour and make it into a smooth paste.
8)This is the coconut paste used.
Cooking Noolkol
9)Take chopped noolkol in a cooking pot.
10)Add in black pepper powder.
11)Add in salt and turmeric powder.
12)Pour some water just enough to cover the noolkol.
13)cover and cook until noolkol is cooked.
14)Now the water has dried up and the noolkol is cooked.
15)Add in the whisked yogurt into the cooked noolkol.
16)Add in the ground coconut paste.
17)Mix well. Cook for few minutes till it gets thick and creamy.
18)Let it come to a simmer.
Tempering
19)Heat oil in a pan.
20)Add in mustard, fenugreek seeds, dry red chillies, curry leaves.
21)Let them sizzle in the oil.
22)Pour this over the curry.
23)Mix well.
24)Serve.
Expert Tips
Peeling : Wash the noolkol well and peel off the thick outer skin before cooking. The outer layer will be tough, so removing it helps the vegetable cook evenly and taste better.
Cook on low heat : Cook the kohlrabi along with pepper, salt and water on low heat for about 20 minutes. This helps to cook the vegetable tender and soft without turning mushy.
Whisk the yogurt : Make sure the yogurt is at room temperature before using. Whisk the curd until smooth and creamy before adding it to the curry to prevent lumps.
Adjusting spices : You can add or reduce the green chilli quantity based on your spice preference.
Storage : Store any leftover noolkol curry in a clean, airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. It stays good for about 1 to 2 days. If the curry becomes thick, you can add a little water and mix well while reheating.
Serving : This creamy and delicious noolkol curry tastes wonderfully with hot steamed rice, poriyal and pappadam.
FAQ
Yes. kohlrabi is a healthy and nutritious vegetable that is rich in Vitamin C, fiber and low in calories., which supports the immune system and also helps in digestion.
Kohlrabi has a mild, slightly sweet taste similar to cabbage. When cooked, it becomes soft and absorbs the flavours well. It is perfect for making everyday dishes like curries, poriyal, stir fry and sambar.
📖 Get Recipe
Noolkol Curry Recipe | Kohlrabi Curry Recipe | Turnip Curry Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
For Cooking Kohlrabi
- 4 medium Noolkol (Kohlrabi)
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 cups Water as needed
- ½ cup Plain Yogurt (Curd)
For Grinding
- 1 cup Fresh Coconut grated
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 1 no Green Chilli
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 2 teaspoon Rice Flour
For Tempering
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
- ¼ teaspoon Fenugreek Seeds
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
- 1 no Dry Red Chillies broken into pieces
Instructions
- Pre preparation - Peel noolkol and chop it into small pieces. Grind the ingredients given for grinding to a smooth paste. Take yogurt in a bowl, Whisk yogurt till smooth and set aside.
- Cooking Noolkol - Take noolkol in a pot along with pepper, salt turmeric and water. Cook this for 15 mins or so till it is completely cooked.
- Make Curry - Now once the noolkol is cooked, add in the yogurt and mix well. Add in the ground masala and mix well. Simmer for few more minute until thickens.
- Tempering - Now make tempering by heat oil and add in the spices. Let them sizzle. Pour this over the curry and mix well. Serve with rice.
Dita
Hi Aarthi, Try cooking Nookol with mutton... Prepare your regular mutton gravy but with addition of this yummy veg... Tastes great...
Keerthana
Hi, I tried this at home today. It came out really tasty. Thanq for the recipe ☺
Priya
Hi Thankyou for this recipe ,first time I tried this vegetable ,this recipe was so tempting to have ,pls do share more variety of vegan recipes
Ramaa Bharadvaj
Got fresh noolkol and was looking for recipes - came across yours. So yummylooking! Looking forward to trying it. So well written and illustrated. Thank you for your time in creating your blog.
Muthu
Awesome and tasty.. Thankyou! For me too this was the first time with noolkol