The King of Sri Lankan Vegetarian Curries: Cashew Curry Recipe (Kaju Maluwa)🥜🤎

The King of Sri Lankan Vegetarian Curries: Cashew Curry Recipe (Kaju Maluwa)🥜

📝Introduction

If there is one dish that defines Sri Lankan hospitality, it’s the Cashew Curry. Soft, buttery cashews cooked in a rich, golden coconut gravy is a vegetarian delight that even meat lovers can't resist. Creamy Cashew Curry, known as Kaju Maluwa in Sri Lanka, is a luxurious vegetarian dish often reserved for special occasions, weddings, and festive meals. This curry is mildly spiced, creamy, and incredibly satisfying.

Let me tell you a little secret. There's a 'sneaky thing' I do before making this cashew curry. To be honest, I really like to eat cashews before cooking them. When my mom soaks the cashews to make cashew fish, I sneak a few cashews into my mouth. I know you've probably done that too! ☺️

Can you imagine how delicious this recipe is when you cook it? So, today, I have brought you that delicious cashew curry. Although many people are afraid to make it, anyone can make it to their taste by following these simple steps. If you try making it this way, don't forget to leave me a comment below to let me know how it tastes.

👍Recipe Overview

- Cuisine: Sri Lankan

- Course: Main / Side Dish

- Difficulty: Easy

- Servings: 4 People

- Prep Time: 20 minutes

- Cook Time: 20 minutes

- Total Time: 40 minutes

🧺Ingredients

- Cashew nuts – 1 cup

- Thick coconut milk – 1 cup

- Thin coconut milk or water – 1 cup

- Onion – 1 (sliced)

- Garlic – 3 (minced)

- Coconut oil or vegetable oil – 1 tbsp

- Green chili – 2

- Curry leaves and Pandan leaves (Rampe)

- Cinnamon piece

- Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp

- Chili powder – ½ tsp (adjust to taste)

- Roasted curry powder – 1 tsp

- Salt – to taste

🔪Required Equipment

- Medium pot

- Bowl (for soaking cashews)

- Knife & chopping board

- Wooden spoon

👩‍🍳Recipe Steps

1. Soak the cashews

Soak cashews in warm water for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2. Fry aromatics

Heat oil in a saucepan. Add cinnamon, curry leaves and pandan leavers, onion, garlic, and green chili. fry until soft and fragrant.

3. Add spices

Add turmeric, chili powder, roasted curry powder, and salt. Stir well on low heat.

4. Cook the cashews

Add soaked cashews and thin coconut milk (or water). Simmer for 10–12 minutes until cashews are tender.

5. Make it creamy

Reduce heat and add thick coconut milk. Simmer gently for 5 minutes.

6. Finish & rest

Turn off heat and let the curry rest for a few minutes to deepen flavors.

👉 Serving suggestions - Rice, String hoppers, Pol roti, Yello rice

🔄Variations

- Spicy Cashew Curry: For a bold kick, add a teaspoon of roasted curry powder and chili flakes to make it a "Red Cashew Curry."

- Cashew with Potatoes: Mix in diced potatoes to increase the quantity and make the gravy even creamier.

- Crunchy Twist: Lightly fry the cashews in coconut oil before adding them to the gravy for a deeper, toasted flavor.

⚠️Common Mistakes

- Not Soaking Long Enough: If you don't soak raw cashews for at least 30–60 minutes, they will remain crunchy instead of becoming soft and buttery.

- Boiling Thick Milk: Never boil the thick coconut milk (first extract) on high heat for too long, as it will curdle. Always simmer it gently at the very end.

- Over-Spicing: Adding too much chili powder or roasted curry powder will overpower the delicate, sweet taste of the cashews.

- Skipping the Salt Balance: Cashews are naturally sweet. If you don't add enough salt, the curry can taste a bit bland. Always taste and adjust before turning off the heat.

💡Tips from My Kitchen

- Don’t boil after adding thick coconut milk—it may split.

- Use roasted curry powder for authentic Sri Lankan flavor.

- Whole cashews give a luxurious texture, halves cook faster.

- This curry tastes even better after resting for 30 minutes.

🌾Conclusion

Creamy Cashew Curry (Kaju Maluwa) is a true celebratory dish. It is rich, comforting and deeply rooted in Sri Lankan tradition. With its subtle spices and creamy coconut base, this curry transforms simple cashews into something truly special. A must-have for the festive table. Perfect for a hearty home-cooked meal. It is a dish to be savored slowly.

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