Skip to Content

APPLE CURRY(vegetarian, vegan).

Apple curry might seem to be an unusual dish to you but this Sri Lankan version of apple curry will surprise you with all its flavors.

This sweet and mildly spiced apple curry comes together in three stages.

First, I coat the apple wedges in curry powder seasoning, then I make toasted rice and scraped coconut blend, followed by a few onions and garlic tempering.

When cooked, this healthy vegan/vegetarian dish turns into a gem of a curry dish to enjoy with your family.

apple curry with spices, mustard and red dried chillies.

If you are wondering how the apple curry tastes, then the closest taste resemblance this dish takes on is a Sinhalese-style mango curry.

So if you are living overseas where you are unable to get your hands on some raw mangoes then the granny apples cooked into a curry makes a great substitute.

Only the apples are a little softer than the mangoes.

sri lankan apple curry with spices and thick curry.
  • Granny apples/green apples are best for this recipe.
  • Cut the apples into large cubes so they don’t mash as they cook.
  • Overcooking the apple curry will cause the apples to soften too much, you will need to be careful at the last stages of cooking the curry so it doesn’t turn too soft.
  • Chopping board and knife
  • Large bowl
  • spice or coffe grinder
  • Small frying pan
  • Medium-sized cooking pan

Apple and onion stir fry

Apple and cabbage coleslaw

Use an old container or glass container as the spices stain. refrigerate and use within 2-3 days.

Avoid reheating, as soon as you take the apple curry out of the fridge, leave it out to reach room temperature and then reheat using a microwave or stovetop.

Do not use a spoon to stir constantly as the apples are soft and will turn to mush if overdone.

Avoid freezing.

Any leftovers can be simply mashed up with your spoon or spread over as it is over toasted bread or parathas to make an easy breakfast dish.

The ingredients mentioned below are used in standard measuring cups and spoons.

5 green apples

1/2 a teaspoon of red chillie powder(add 1/2 a teaspoon more to increase spiciness)

1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder(use my coriander recipe)

1/2 a teaspoon of cumin powder(use my cumin powder recipe)

If you are unable to find coriander powder or cumin powder simply replace both the ingredients with 1 and 1/2 a teaspoon of curry powder which has been slightly toasted over low fire.

Salt to season

1 tablespoon of raw rice(any type of rice would work for this

2 tablespoons of scraped coconut(substitute with dessicated coconut)

1 teaspoon of fennel seeds

2 tablespoons of oil

1 medium-sized onion sliced thin

A sprig of curry leaves(substitute with 2 bay leaves)

3 pods of garlic sliced fine

2 whole dried red chillies (optional)

1/2 a teaspoon of turmeric

1 teaspoon of mustard seeds

1/2 a cup of water

1 tablespoon of sugar(to balance off the taste of sourness from the green apples)

Wash the green apples, pat them dry and remove the core and seeds from the apple.

Cut them into large wedges or as shown in the image below.

Place them in a large bowl, add red chillie powder(1/2 tsp and 1/2 a teaspoon more to increase spiciness, coriander powder(1/2 tsp), cumin powder(1/2 a teaspoon), salt to season.

If you are unable to find coriander powder or cumin powder simply replace both the ingredients with 1 and 1/2 a teaspoon of curry powder which has been slightly toasted over low fire.

Combine well and set aside.

seasoned apple cubes left to marinate for 30 to 40 minutes.

Place a small frying pan over very low fire.

Add the raw rice(1 tbsp), and toast until the raw rice turn slightly brown, make sure to move the rice around so the grains won’t burn. once done transfer to a separate bowl.

Add the scraped coconut(2 tbsp scraped coconut, substitute with dessicated coconut)toast until slightly brown then transfer to the same bowl of rice.

Add the fennel seeds(1 tsp), toast it the same way as above and transfer to bowl.

Let the ingredients cool for 10 minutes.

toasting the fennel seeds, rice, and toasted coconut to make the apple curry.

Add the toasted rice, coconut, and fennel seeds into a spice blender or coffee grinder, then grind it to a coarse powder.

Set aside until used.

Place a medium-sized cooking pan over a low-medium fire.

Pour in the oil(2 tablespoons), add the sliced onions(1 medium sliced thin), a sprig of curry leaves, garlic(3 pods sliced thin), and whole red chillies(2, optional).

Cook until the onions turn translucent and slightly golden.

tempering onions, mustard seeds and slices of garlic to cook apple curry.

Add the mustard seeds(1 tsp)and cook for 12-15 seconds.

cooking, the sliced onions, curry leaves, garlic and mustard to cook the apple curry.

Reduce heat, add the roasted ingredient powder and mix with the tempering.

adding the roasted ingredient powder to cook the sri lankan apple curry.

Combine until you have a coarse paste, make sure the powder doesn’t stick to the pan by reducing the heat or adding another tablespoon of oil.

spice paste ready to make Sri Lankan apple curry.

Add the apples and stir fry with the spice blend for 2 minutes.

Season with salt and pour in the water(1/2 a cup).

cooking the apple in water and spices to make the apple curry.

Cook for 7 minutes over low-medium fire, taste and season with salt before adding the sugar(1 tbs).

Continue to cook until the water and the spice blend turn into a thick gravy-like consistency.

Avoid using a spoon as the apples are soft enough to turn into mush. instead, tilt the pan around to move the apple pieces within the pan.

You need to keep an eye on the apple curry as you don’t want to overcook the dish and make the apple too soft.

Once cooked serve warm with your favorite dishes.

apple curry, sri lankan style cooked in spices.
wedges of apple cooked to make a sri lankan apple curry.

Apple curry(vegetarian, vegan).

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Apple curry might seem to be an unusual dish to you but this Sri Lankan version of apple curry is going to surprise you with all its flavors.

Ingredients

  • Ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.
  • 5 green apples
  • 1/2 teaspoon of red chillie powder(add 1/2 a teaspoon more to increase spiciness)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder(use my coriander recipe)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of cumin powder(use my cumin powder recipe)
  • If you are unable to find coriander powder or cumin powder simply replace both the ingredients with 1 and 1/2 a teaspoon of curry powder which has been slightly toasted over low fire.
  • Salt to season

To make rice and coconut blend(kalupol)

  • 1 tablespoon of raw rice(any type of rice would work for this)
  • 2 tablespoons of scraped coconut(substitute with dessicated coconut)
  • 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds

For tempering

  • 2 tablespoons of oil
  • 1 medium-sized onion sliced thin
  • A sprig of curry leaves(substitute with 2 bay leaves)
  • 3 pods of garlic sliced fine
  • 2 whole dried red chillies(optional)
  • 1/2 a teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds
  • 1/2 a cup of water
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar(to balance off the taste of sourness from the green apples)

Instructions

Wash the green apples, pat them dry and remove the core and seeds from the apple.

Cut them into large wedges or as shown in the image below.

Place them in a large bowl, add red chillie powder(1/2 tsp and 1/2 a teaspoon more to increase spiciness, coriander powder(1/2 tsp), cumin powder(1/2 a teaspoon), salt to season.

If you are unable to find coriander powder or cumin powder simply replace both the ingredients with 1 and 1/2 a teaspoon of curry powder which has been slightly toasted over low fire.

Combine well and set aside.

How to make the raw rice and coconut toasted powder(kalupol).

Place a small frying pan over a very low fire.

Add the raw rice(1 tbsp), toast until the raw rice turns slightly brown, make sure to move the rice around so the grains won’t burn. once done transfer to a separate bowl.

Add the scraped coconut(2 tbsp scraped coconut, substitute with dessicated coconut)toast until slightly brown then transfer to the same bowl of rice.

Add the fennel seeds(1 tsp), toast it the same way as above, and transfer to a bowl.

Let the ingredients cool for 10 minutes.

Add the toasted rice, coconut, fennel seeds into a spice blender or coffee grinder, then grind it to a coarse powder.

Set aside until used.

Place a medium-sized cooking pan over a low-medium fire.

Pour in the oil(2 tablespoons), add the sliced onions(1 medium sliced thin), a sprig of curry leaves, garlic(3 pods sliced thin), and whole red chillies(2, optional).

Cook until the onions turn translucent and slightly golden.

Add the mustard seeds(1 tsp)and cook for 12-15 seconds.

Reduce heat and add the roasted ingredient powder and mix with the tempering.

Combine until you have a coarse paste, make sure the powder doesn’t stick to the pan by reducing the heat or adding another tablespoon of oil.

Add in the apples and stir fry with the spice blend for 2 minutes.

Season with salt and then pour in the water(1/2 a cup).

Cook for 7 minutes over a low-medium fire, taste, and season with salt before adding the sugar(1 tbs).

Continue to cook until the water and the spice blend turn into a thick gravy-like consistency.

Avoid using a spoon as the apples are soft enough to turn into mush. instead, tilt the pan around to move the apple pieces within the pan.

You need to keep an eye on the apple curry as you don’t want to overcook the dish and make the apple too soft.

Once cooked serve warm with your favorite dishes.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 195Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 129mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 5gSugar: 24gProtein: 2g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Each recipe on this blog has been written with great care and love to the best of my ability with you in mind.

It’s free and on the blog, for you to try anytime.


All I ask is that you do not save it on any apps, recipe boxes, or online groups which will affect me as a food blogger and the growth of this blog.

I would appreciate it if you only shared the link rather than the full recipe. 
All images and text on this website are protected by copyright.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to Recipe