Cheera Thoran / Spinach Stir-fry ( Keerai )

Thoran, a popular and common Kerala cuisine dish is usually prepared to be eaten along with steamed rice. It is usually served as part of the Sadhya along with other dishes. This dry dish is traditionally made of a finely chopped vegetables such as yardlong bean, unripe jackfruit, bittergourd, red/green spinach etc. It is very easy to make n delicious.

Preparation time: 5 mins Makes 2 servings Cooking time: 20 mins Ingredients:


Spinach - 2 cups, chopped Onion/shallots - 1/2 cup, chopped Garlic - 3-4 pods , minced Red Chillies - 2-3 Urad Dal - 1/2 tsp Chana Dal - 1/2 tsp Mustard - 1/2 tsp Asafoetida - a pinch Curry Leaves - 1 sprig Coconut oil - 1 tsp Salt Oil

To grind : Grated coconut - 2-3 tbs Green Chillies - 2-3 Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Procedure:

1. Grind coarsely the coconut, g.chillies, cumin seeds and turmeric.
2. Heat oil in a pan; add mustard, urad dal, chana dal, dry red chillies & curry leaves.
3. Saute Onion to pink and add minced garlic & asafoetida.
4. To this, add the chopped spinach , salt and saute for a while.
5. The spinach would have shrunk completely by now, add the ground coconut paste.Mix well
6. Let this cook till the the mixture is dry.
7. Switch off the stove, add 1 tsp of coconut oil n mix well. This gives a nice aroma and taste to the thoran.

Serve hot with Rice and curry.