Raw Jackfruit (Idichakka) Thoran - Kerala style

 

            Raw Jackfruit Thoran is a simple, easy and a traditional Kerala recipe that is cooked with lots of fresh coconut and other spices. It is a quick recipe, mildly spiced and don't forget to cook it in coconut oil for an authentic touch. It is tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, urad dal and red chili for a distinct flavor. This happens to be one of the items in the Onam Sadya meal, and is relished as a side dish. 

            This nutritious dish is very popular in Kerala where it is called Idichakka Thoran. There are obviously many version to this yummy preparation. Each family have their own traditional recipe.  

          Thoran in general can also be made with veggies like carrot, cabbage, beetroot, raw banana, okra, etc. It is cooked dry and is packed with flavor. You can also relish as a side dish with curd-rice, sambar rice or chapatti. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this regional delicacy.

           Raw Jackfruit or Kathal is a common and a favorite summer vegetable. It is cooked in various ways. It is a veggie in the unripe form and is known as a vegetarian's Non-Veg. dish as the texture resembles that of mutton. Raw Jackfruit as a vegetable, is high on proteins and low in calories. It also boosts our immunity and is a great meat substitute for the vegetarians. 

           This humble vegetable has not much found its way to the dinner table. However, one can make a variety of yummy dishes like appetizers, salad, bharta stir fries and also in a curry form. The seeds too are palatable and tastes very yummy after it is cooked. 

Ingredients - 

• 1 small size tender raw jackfruit, peeled & cut into small pieces
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt to taste
• 1 tbsp. + 1 tsp. coconut oil
• 1 cup water

To grind  - 

• 1/2 cup fresh grated coconut
• 3 green chilies
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 4-5 shallots
• 3 dry red chilies
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Tempering - 

• 1 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 dry red chili
• 1 tsp. urad dal
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 8-10 shallots, chopped
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Pressure cook the jackfruit pieces in 1 cup water, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder and 1 tsp. oil for 3-4 whistles. When cool, drain the water and mash them coarsely. Set aside. 

          In a mixer jar, add the coconut, shallots, curry leaves, green chilies, dry red chilies and 1/4 tsp. salt. Grind into a coarse paste and set aside. 

          Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the mashed jackfruit for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.

          Heat remaining oil and temper with mustard seeds and dry red chili.  After the seeds crackle, add the urad dal and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

          Then add the chopped shallots and sauté till light brown. 

          Now add the coarsely ground coconut paste and sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

         Then add the sautéed jackfruit and salt to taste. Mix everything well and continue to stir fry for 4-5 minutes on a low to medium flame.

          When done, garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with steamed rice and sambar or as a side dish with parotta. 

In a mixer jar, add the coconut, shallots, curry leaves, green chilies, dry red chilies and 1/4 tsp. salt. 

                  Grind into a coarse paste and set aside. 

Pressure cook the jackfruit pieces in 1 cup water, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder & 1 tsp. oil for 3-4 whistles. 

               When cool, drain the water & mash them coarsely. Set aside. 

Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan & sauté the mashed jackfruit for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.

Heat remaining oil & temper with mustard seeds and dry red chili. After the seeds crackle, add the urad dal & curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.

                   Then add the chopped shallots & sauté till light brown. 

      Now add the coarsely ground coconut paste & sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

Then add the sautéed jackfruit & salt to taste. Mix everything well & continue to stir fry for 4-5 minutes on a low to medium flame.

                        When done, garnish with coriander leaves. 

Serve with steamed rice and sambar or as a side dish with parotta. 

Malabar Spinach Thoran (kerala style)

 

         Thoran is a Kerala delicacy that is not only nutritious, but very delicious and easy to prepare. It is a quick recipe and mildly spiced. You can prepare this dry stir fry dish with veggies like carrot, cabbage, beetroot, raw banana, okra or any greens by following the same method. 

          So let me share a Thoran recipe prepared with Malabar Spinach. I cooked in coconut oil for an authentic touch and flavour. Almost similar to Poriyal recipe from Tamil Nadu, it can be relished as one of the items in a Sadya meal or as a side dish with curd-rice, sambar rice, dal-chawal or chapatti. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this delicacy.

• 2-3 cups Malabar Spinach, washed, drained & chopped
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1-2 dry red chilies
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder

To Grind - 

• 1/2 cup fresh coconut
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 2-3 garlic cloves 
• 2 green chilies

          Grind the coconut, cumin seeds, green chilies and garlic coarsely and keep aside. 

         Heat oil in a pan and temper with dry red chilies and mustard seeds. Sauté for a few seconds.

         Now add the onion and curry leaves. Stir fry till light brown. Add the chopped greens, salt and turmeric powder. Mix well and and cook, covered till soft. 

          Now add the ground coconut paste and give it a toss. Stir fry for a minute. Enjoy as a side dish with steamed rice, sambar-rice, curd-rice or chapattis.

                                  Heat oil & temper with dry red chilies & mustard seeds. 

 Now add the onion and garlic. Stir fry till light brown.

                    Add the chopped greens, salt & turmeric powder. Cook, covered till done. 

                                  Add the ground coconut paste and give it a toss. 

                   Enjoy as a side dish with steamed rice, sambar-rice, curd-rice or chapattis.

Raw Banana Thoran (Kerala Cuisine)

 

          This is a simple, easy and a traditional Kerala recipe, where raw banana is cooked with fresh coconut. It is tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, red chili and raw rice for a delicious flavor.  This happens to be one of the items in the Onam Sadya meal, and is relished as a side dish. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this regional delicacy.

• 3 raw bananas
• 1/3 cup fresh coconut, grated
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1-2 green chilies
• 2 sprigs curry leaves
• 3 tbsp. coriander leaves
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 dry red chili, broken
• 1 tsp. raw rice
• 1 onion, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder

          Pressure cook the raw bananas in sufficient water for 1 whistle. When cool, discard the skin and chop into cubes. 

          Grind the coconut, garlic, cumin seeds, green chilies, coriander leaves and 1 sprig curry leaves into a coarse paste. Keep aside.

          Heat oil in a pan and temper with the mustard seeds, dry red chili, 1 sprig curry leaves and raw rice. Sauté till it stops spluttering.

          Now add the onion, salt and turmeric powder. Stir fry till light brown. Then add the boiled banana and cook, covered on a low flame 1-2 minutes. 

          Add the coarse paste and give it a stir. Sauté for a minute and then switch off the flame. Serve as a side dish with steamed rice, sambar-rice, curd-rice or chapattis.

                    Grind coconut, garlic, cumin seeds, green chilies, 1 sprig curry leaves & 

                    coriander leaves into a paste. Keep aside.

                     Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds, dry red chili, 1 sprig curry leaves

                     and raw rice. Sauté till it stops spluttering.

 Now add the onion, 

                                  salt and turmeric powder. Stir fry till light brown. 

                     Then add the boiled banana & cook, covered on a low flame 1-2 minutes. 

                                 Add the coarse paste and give it a stir. Sauté for a minute. 

                   Serve as a side dish with steamed rice, sambar-rice, curd-rice or chapattis.

Soya Bean Thoran - Kerala style

 

          Thoran is a traditional Kerala delicacy that is not only nutritious, but very delicious and easy to prepare. It is a common item in a Sadya meal. There are obviously many version to this yummy preparation. Each family has their own traditional version. It is a quick recipe, mildly spiced and has a lot of fresh coconut in it. Don't forget to cook in coconut oil for an authentic touch. 

          Thoran can be made with veggies like carrot, cabbage, beetroot, raw banana, okra, etc. However, I would like to share my version of a Thoran made of Soya bean. It is cooked dry and is packed with flavor. You can relish as a side dish with curd-rice, sambar rice or chapatti. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 1 cup soya bean chunks
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil
• 1-2 dry red chilies
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp. asafoetida
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 onion chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped

To grind - 

• 1/2 cup fresh coconut
• 1" ginger
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• 1-2 green chilies
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp. peppercorns

         Soak the soya bean in hot water for 10 minutes. Squeeze out well and grind coarsely. 

         Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté the soya bean and turmeric powder for 2-3 minutes. Keep aside.

         Heat remaining oil and temper with whole red chilies, mustard seeds & asafoetida. After it stops spluttering, add the onion and curry leaves. Sauté till light brown.

          Now add the sautéed soya bean, followed by all the dry spices and the ground coconut mix. Give it a toss and stir fry for 4-5 minutes on a low to medium flame. 

          When done, garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy as a side dish with either rice or chapatti. 

                       Heat 1 tbsp. oil & sauté the soya bean & turmeric powder for 2-3 min.

                       Heat remaining oil & temper with whole red chilies, mustard seeds & 

                       asafoetida.

                                  Add the onion and curry leaves. Sauté till light brown.

                                 Add the sautéed soya bean, followed by all the dry spices....

 

 & the ground coconut mix. Give it a toss & stir fry for 4-5 min. on a low

 to medium flame.

When done, garnish with coriander leaves.

                                 Enjoy as a side dish with either rice or chapatti.